Former Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart dies at 63

Longtime Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart has died, the team announced Saturday morning. He was 63.

A native of Asheville, N.C., Stewart made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 1978, striking out seven consecutive batters in his first appearance. Stewart pitched eight seasons in Baltimore, as both a starter and reliever. He led the American League in ERA (2.32) in 1981.

Nicknamed the "Throwin' Swannanoan," Stewart played a key role in the Orioles' last World Series championship in 1983, pitching five scoreless innings in the series. In all, Stewart pitched 12 scoreless postseason innings between 1979 and 1983.

The right-hander finished his career with a season apiece in Boston and Cleveland. He retired after the 1987 season with a mark of 59-48 and a 3.59 ERA.

After his career, however, Stewart ran into trouble. According to the Baltimore Sun, he started using crack cocaine shortly after he retired, and ended up serving almost seven years in a North Carolina prison. But Stewart turned his life around after his release in early 2013.

In 2016, Stewart joined the Orioles broadcast to talk about his career.