Matt Keough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Keough |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: July 3, 1955 Pomona, California, U.S. |
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| Died: May 1, 2020 (aged 64) Trabuco Canyon, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 3, 1977, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| NPB: April 10, 1987, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 2, 1986, for the Houston Astros | |||
| NPB: September 27, 1990, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 58–84 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.17 | ||
| Strikeouts | 590 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 45–44 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.73 | ||
| Strikeouts | 398 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Matthew Lon Keough (pronounced KEE-oh) was an American professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher. Matt played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1977 to 1986. He played for teams like the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros.
After his time in MLB, Keough also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. He played for the Hanshin Tigers for four seasons, from 1987 to 1990. He batted and threw with his right hand.
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Baseball Career Highlights
Matt Keough finished high school in Newport Beach, California, in 1973. The Oakland Athletics chose him in the seventh round of the 1973 baseball draft.
Oakland first signed Keough as an infielder. He was meant to play third base. In 1975, he was a great hitter in the California league. However, his hitting wasn't as good in 1976. Because of this, he changed his position to a pitcher. He joined the Oakland Athletics as a pitcher in 1977.
In his first full season in 1978, he was chosen for the All-Star Game. He had a good ERA of 3.24 that year. In 1979, he had a tough season. He lost his first 14 games and finished with only 2 wins and 17 losses. This was one of the lowest winning percentages for a pitcher in a long time.
Comeback and Challenges
Despite the tough 1979 season, Keough made a great comeback in 1980. He won 16 games and lost 13. For this, he earned the AL Comeback Player of the Year award. In 1981, which was a shorter season due to a strike, he had a record of 10 wins and 6 losses. This helped Oakland reach the AL Division Series. He pitched very well in a playoff game against the New York Yankees.
In 1982, Keough struggled again. He led the American League with 18 losses. He also allowed many home runs and earned runs. Some baseball experts believe his manager, Billy Martin, made him pitch too much. This might have tired him out.
Later Career and Injury
In 1983, the Athletics traded Keough to the New York Yankees. He then played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. In 1986, he played for the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. In 1987, he moved to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers. He played there until 1990.
He tried to return to MLB with the California Angels in 1991. He did not make the team. In 1992, he tried again with the Angels. During an exhibition game, he was sitting in the dugout. A foul ball hit him in the head. This serious injury ended his playing career.
After playing, Keough worked for the Athletics and Angels. He was a pitching coach and an executive from 1992 to 1999. He also worked as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and later returned to the Oakland Athletics as an executive.
Pitching Style
Sometimes, Keough would throw a special pitch called a "spitball." This pitch can be tricky. One time, it didn't work out for him. He threw a spitball that Boston Red Sox player Jerry Remy missed. The umpire thought Remy had fouled it off, so he stayed at bat. On the very next pitch, Remy hit a home run. This was the last home run of Remy's career.
In his nine seasons in MLB, Matt Keough had 58 wins and 84 losses. He had 590 strikeouts and a 4.17 ERA. He pitched 1190 innings pitched, including seven shutouts and 57 complete games.
Personal Life and Family
Matt Keough came from a baseball family. His father, Marty Keough, and his uncle, Joe Keough, also played in Major League Baseball.
Matt was married to Jeana Keough. They had three children: Shane, Kara, and Colton. Their oldest son, Shane, also became a professional baseball player. He played in the minor leagues for the Stockton Ports. Their daughter, Kara, married NFL player Kyle Bosworth.
Matt Keough passed away on May 1, 2020, in California. He was 64 years old. His former wife, Jeana, said he died from a pulmonary embolism, which is a medical condition.
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
