New York Yankees: Mel Stottlemyre’s passing is a huge loss for the Yanks organization

Mel Stottlemyre, who was the pitching coach for the New York Yankees during their late 1990s dynasty, has passed away. His death is sad for baseball and the Yanks.

Former New York Yankees pitcher and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre died on Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 77 years old.

Mel’s wife, Jean Stottlemyer, told Richard Goldstein of the New York Times that Mel’s death was caused by complications of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer which he has been treated for since 2000.

She also noted that he had the flu and pneumonia when he died.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner issued a statement on Mel’s passing, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:

"“Beyond his tremendous accomplishments as a player and coach, Mel Stottlemyre was beloved for his class, dignity and fighting spirit. His contributions to different eras in our history guided us through difficult times and brought us some of our greatest all-time success. As a result, Mel’s popularity transcended generations, all of whom thought of him as their own. His plaque in Monument Park will forever serve to celebrate the significance of his legacy.His passing is a tremendous loss to the Yankees and all those in the baseball community, and we extend our deepest condolences to Mel’s wife, Jean, and the entire Stottlemyre family.”"

The Yankees team twitter shared the following tribute as well:

Stottlemyre was drafted by the Yankees in 1961 and pitched for them for 11 seasons.

He made his major league debut in 1964, going 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA and helped the Yankees win a fifth straight American League pennant.

In 1965, Stottlemyre was named an All-Star for the first time.

He finished his playing career with a 164-139 record, a 2.97 ERA, 1,257 strikeouts, seven home runs and was an All-Star five times.

In 2015, Stottlemyre was enshrined in Monument park on Old Timer’s day.

Here’s what Stottlemyre said about being enshrined in Monument Park in 2015, via ESPN:

"“Today in this Stadium, there is no one that’s happier to be on this field than myself,” Stottlemyre said after being surprised by the Yankees with his plaque in 2015. “This is such a shock to me because the era I played in is an era where, for the most part, the Yankees have tried over the years, I think, somewhat to forget a little bit. … If I never get to come to another Old Timers Day, I will take these memories and I’ll start another baseball club, coaching up there, wherever they need me.”"

In 1996, Stottlemyre rejoined the Yankees as the pitching coach after serving as the pitching coach for the Houston Astros the prior two seasons.

He resigned from the Yankees in 2005 and was the Mariners pitching coach in 2008 and then he retired.

Stottlemyre’s death isn’t just a huge loss for the Yankees, it a huge loss for baseball as a whole.

He was a good player and a great coach.

He was also a class act, like Derek Jeter and a lot of other people who have been with the Yankees.

He is a baseball champion and legend and should go into the Hall of Fame.

Mel Stottlemyre, you will be greatly missed.