Vern Ruhle, 55, Mets Pitching Coach
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Vern Ruhle, a former major league pitcher and coach for several teams including the New York Mets, died Saturday in Houston of cancer. He was 55.
Ruhle pitched for Detroit, Houston, Cleveland and the California Angels from 1974-86, going 67-88 with a 3.73 ERA.
He was a pitching coach with Houston and Philadelphia before joining the Mets under first-year manager Art Howe in 2003. A lackluster Mets team went 66-95, while the pitching staff posted an e.r.a. of 4.48, 10th in the National League. Ruhle left in a postseason housecleaning.
He then joined the Cincinnati Reds, where he was named pitching coach in 2004.
Ruhle was diagnosed with cancer at a routine Reds team physical last February, and missed the whole season while being treated.
