New York Yankees Mel Stottlemyre Improving After Health Scare

Former New York Yankees pitcher and coach Mel Stottlemyre was admitted to the hospital on Friday where he was said to be fighting for his life. Fortunately, his health scare appears to be over.

Back in 1999, Mel Stottlemyre was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. He was coaching with the New York Yankees at the time, the team that he spent his entire eleven year career with. Expecting a long battle with the cancer, he was given a stem cell treatment in 2000, allowing him to continue on as pitching coach until he retired in 2005.

Stottlemyre had been in good health until 2011, when the cancer returned. A change in medication in 2015 improved his health again, allowing Stottlemyre to live life on his own terms once more. However, on Friday, his condition appeared to take a sudden turn for the worse, as he was admitted to the hospital. His son, former Major League pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, said that the Yankees great was fighting for his life.

Fortunately, Mel Stottlemyre is improving. Instead of complications due to cancer, he had a reaction to his medication. He was given antibiotics to fight infection, and responded well. Hopefully, he will continue to recover, and be able to return home soon.

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Prior to becoming a pitching coach, Stottlemyre was a solid pitcher for New York. Despite leading the American League in losses twice, he also won 20 or more games three times. A five time All Star, Stottlemyre posted a career 164-139 record with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.219 WHiP. A true workhorse, he pitched 250 or more innings in nine consecutive seasons, leading the league in complete games twice, before a torn rotator cuff ended his career.

He made his mark as a pitching coach. Coming back to baseball three years after his career ended, Stottlemyre was the pitching coach for the Mariners for their first five seasons. After two years away, he served in the same capacity for the Mets, Astros, and finally, the Yankees. He was rewarded for his time in the Bronx with a plaque in MOnument Park last year, much to his surprise.

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Far too many people have been lost during 2016, and for a while, it appeared that Mel Stottlemyre would join that list. However, the New York Yankees great has continued his fight, and has seen his condition improve.