Ken Holtzman, who threw 2 no-hitters, won 4 WS titles, dies at 78

Ken Holtzman, who tossed two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and won four World Series, died Sunday at 78.

His brother, Bob, confirmed the two-time All-Star left-hander's death to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Holtzman had been hospitalized for three weeks while battling heart issues.

The Cubs posted on social media that they were "deeply saddened" by Holtzman's death.

Holtzman was 174-150 with a 3.49 ERA and 1,601 strikeouts in 451 games (410 starts) over 15 seasons with the Cubs (1965-71, 1978-79), Oakland Athletics (1972-75), Baltimore Orioles (1976) and New York Yankees (1976-78).

He won three straight World Series championships with the A's (1972-74) and another with the Yankees in 1977. He was 6-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 13 postseason games (12 starts), including a 4-1 record in the World Series.

Holtzman made back-to-back American League All-Star teams with Oakland in 1972 and 1973, finishing the latter campaign with a career-high 21 wins.

The St. Louis native is one of only two Cubs pitchers since 1900 with multiple no-hitters, along with Jake Arrieta. Holtzman's first came against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 19, 1969, and his second was on June 3, 1971, against the Cincinnati Reds.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.