Former American League Cy Young Award winner Bob Welch died Monday night at his home in Seal Beach, Calif., the team announced Tuesday. Welch was 57 years old.
While an autopsy has been performed, the official cause of death is not yet known. The Los Angeles Dodgers, however, with whom Welch played for 10 years, cited a heart attack as the cause of death.
Welch was found by police officers responding to a medical call for help.
"This is a sad day for the entire A's organization," Oakland general manager Billy Beane said. "Those of us who knew Bob as a teammate and a friend will miss him greatly."
Early in his career, Welsh struggled with alcoholism and spent time in rehabilitation. He later co-authored a book "Five O'Clock Comes Early: A Ballplayer's Battle With Alcoholism," chronicling his battle with the disease.
"The fact is, I'm crazy when I'm drunk," Welch said in the book, according to ESPN.com. "There's every chance I would have been dead by now if I was drinking."
His most memorable moment in the majors came during Game 2 of the 1978 World Series against the New York Yankees. The right-hander was brought into the game in the ninth with two runners on base and the Dodgers ahead 4-3.
Welsh, a 21-year-old rookie, got Yankees catcher Thurman Munson to fly out, before power-hitter Reggie Jackson stepped in the batter's box. In a tense at-bat, Welch struck out Jackson on a 3-2 fastball to end the game.
Welch won the Cy Young Award in 1990 as a member of the Oakland A's. That year, he had a record of 27-6 with a 2.95 earned-run average.
He is the last major-leaguer to win at least 25 games in a season. Welch finished his career with a record of 211-146 and a 3.47 ERA.
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