Former New York Mets interim pitching coach Phil Regan is suing the organization for age discrimination, his lawyer told TMZ on Tuesday.
The Mets made Regan interim pitching coach under then-manager Mickey Callaway when they fired Dave Eiland midway through the 2019 season. Regan, then 82, was not retained, however, alleging that then-general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told him he was “too old,” per the lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
The Mets hired 33-year-old Jeremy Hefner as their new pitching coach the following offseason.
“Suing for discrimination in professional sports is extremely rare,” Regan’s attorney Matthew Blit told TMZ. “In fact, Phil debated doing this for many years. But the hurt from the conversation that he had with Mr. Van Wagenen continues to haunt him to this day. He can hear the exact words playing in his head over and over. Phil knew this had to be done.”
Regan had been in the Mets’ organization for 10 years, first as pitching coach for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets and then as a minor league assistant pitching coordinator.
Regan, now 85, managed the Baltimore Orioles in 1995, going 71-73. Regan went 96-81 with a 3.84 ERA in 13 seasons with four teams from 1960-1972. He made the All-Star team in 1966 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
–Field Level Media
