Mel Stottlemyre — former Yankees pitcher, longtime pitching coach — dies

NEW YORK — Mel Stottlemyre made his mark on the mound: He started Game 7 of the World Series, earned five championship rings as a pitching coach, wound up with a plaque at Monument Park.

But his most enduring impression might have come with the bat — more than a half-century later, he remains the last pitcher to hit an inside-the-park grand slam.

Stottlemyre, the right-hander who later oversaw stellar staffs for both the Yankees and Mets, has died. He was 77.

The Yankees said Stottlemyre died Sunday. He had been living in the Seattle area and had multiple myeloma for nearly 20 years.

“Mel was more than a pitching coach to me. He was a dear friend. Everything I accomplished in the game was because of him.