Miguel Angel Cuellar died Friday of stomach cancer at the Orlando (Fla.) Regional Medical Center. He was a 32-year-old junk-ball pitcher thought to be past his prime when obtained in a trade from Houston Astros for outfielder Curt Blefary in 1968. Instead, Cuellar blossomed into a workhorse who helped anchor a storied rotation that carried the Orioles to three American League pennants, five playoff appearances and three World Series. "Mike was a monstrous part of the great teams we had from 1969 to 1971," said Earl Weaver, the Hall of Fame manager. "He was an artist on the mound and a player [whose acquisition] put us over the top. Several times, down the stretch, he pitched with two days' rest, when we needed it." Source: The Baltimore Sun
