Matt Lon Keough, an American professional baseball player and an occasional figure on Real Housewives of Orange County, died Friday at the age of 64. However, the cause of his death was not announced publically.
He played as a right-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros from 1977 through 1986.
Keough played 170 games for the Oakland A’s from 1977 to 1983 and earned an All-Star game appearance as a rookie in 1978.
In his later years, he worked as an executive for the Athletics under Billy Beane, who is the A’s executive vice president of basketball operations.
“Matt was a great baseball man and a proud Oakland A,” said Beane. “He had an incredible passion for the game and we were lucky to have him and his wealth of knowledge alongside us for the years he worked as a special assistant.”
“He left an unforgettable impression on everyone he touched in baseball,” he added. “Our sincere condolences are with the entire Keough family tonight.”
Keough was also an occasional figure on the Bravo reality show Real Housewives of Orange County, which featured his ex-wife Jeana Keough along with their children, Kara, Shane, and Colton.
Kara Keough said it has been a tragic few weeks for the family. Kara is married to former NFL player, Kyle Bosworth. She said last month that their newborn son died during birth.
On Saturday, Kara wrote on Instagram, “Daddy, please take care of my son. Teach him the circle changeup and how to find forever friends. You’re on grandpa duty in heaven now.”
Keough also appeared several times in Michael Lewis’ best-selling “Moneyball,” a book that examined how the underfunded Oakland A consistently outperformed wealthier teams.
“Matty, as he is known, easily was the most detached of the group,” Lewis wrote. “He had the air of a man taking a break from some perpetual Hawaiian vacation of the soul to stop by and chat with his old buddies.”
