RIP Matt Keough

Former Hanshin Tigers pitcher Matt Keough passed away on Friday at age 64.  Keough had spent parts of nine seasons in the major leagues with the A's, the Yankees, the Cardinals, the Cubs and the Astros before heading to Kansai for the 1987 season.  He was the Tigers Opening Day starter his first season, the first time ever that a foreign starting pitcher made his NPB debut on Opening Day (he ended up losing to the Swallows).  His best season was probably 1989, when he went 15-9 with a 3.72 ERA (although he had a lower ERA - 2.76 - in 1988 with a 12-12 record).  He spent four seasons with Hanshin before attempting an MLB comeback with the Angels in 1991.  He worked for the Angels, Athletics and Rays after retiring as a player in the early 1990's.

Keough came from a baseball family.  His father Marty had an 11 year big league career with the Red Sox, Indians, Senators, Reds, Braves and Cubs and his uncle Joe spent 6 years in the majors with the A's, the Royals and the White Sox.  Marty also spent 1968 in Japan with Nankai.  Matt's son Shane spent a couple seasons in Oakland's organization the aughts.

It's kind of odd but Keough doesn't appear to have had any Japanese cards issued in 1987, his first season.  The only 1987 card showing him as a member of the Hanshin Tigers is from the Play Ball set which was made by a US card maker.  He had Takara and Calbee cards in 1988, 1989 and 1990 and also appeared in the 1989 Lotte set.  As far as I can tell, the only OB set he appears in is the 2013 BBM Tigers Legends set.  Here's some of his cards:

1987 Play Ball #15

1988 Takara Tigers #4

1989 Lotte #111

1990 Calbee #41

2013 BBM Tigers Legends #23