List of baseball players who died during their careers

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash following the 1972 season.

This is a list of baseball players who died during their careers. While some of these deaths occurred during a game, the majority were the result of accidents off the field, illnesses, acts of violence, or suicide.

Repeated studies have shown that contemporary Major League Baseball players have a greater life expectancy than males in the general U.S. population — about five years more, on average, which is attributed to their superior fitness and healthy lifestyles. The longer the active career, the longer the player lives, on average. This correlation is attributed to the maintenance of fitness and increased wealth.[1]

Deaths of active players[edit]

This is a list of notable deaths in baseball and untimely deaths of active professional baseball players.

† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Major League Baseball[edit]

The following Major League Baseball players died during their careers.

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Nick Adenhart 22 Pitcher Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim killed by drunk driver 2009 [2]
Harry Agganis 26 First baseman Boston Red Sox pulmonary embolism 1955 [2]
Francisco Barrios 28 Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers[a] heart attack 1982 [3]
Steve Bechler 23 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles complications from use of ephedra 2003 [4]
Cy Bentley 22 Pitcher Middletown Mansfields tuberculosis 1873 [5]
Marty Bergen 28 Catcher Boston Beaneaters suicide, cut his own throat 1900
Bill Blair 26 Pitcher Chicago Cubs influenza 1890 [6]
Tony Boeckel 31 Third baseman Boston Braves automobile crash 1924
Tiny Bonham 36 Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates appendicitis 1949
Lyman Bostock 27 Outfielder California Angels homicide, gunshot 1978 [7]
Hal Carlson 38 Pitcher Chicago Cubs stomach hemorrhage 1930
Joe Cassidy 23 Shortstop Washington Senators purpura hemorrhagia 1906
Ray Chapman 29 Shortstop Cleveland Indians struck on head by a pitch during a game 1920 [2]
Roberto Clemente† 38 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates plane crash 1972 [2]
King Cole 29 Pitcher New York Yankees lung cancer 1916 [8]
Hub Collins 28 Second baseman Brooklyn Dodgers typhoid fever 1892
Tim Crews 31 Pitcher Cleveland Indians[b] boat accident (with Steve Olin) 1993 [2]
Amos Cross 28 Catcher Louisville Colonels tuberculosis 1888 [9]
Mike Darr 25 Outfielder San Diego Padres automobile crash 2002 [2]
Jake Daubert 40 First baseman Cincinnati Reds appendicitis 1924
Ed Delahanty† 35 Outfielder Washington Senators drowned, swept over Niagara Falls 1903 [2]
Pickles Dillhoefer 28 Catcher St. Louis Cardinals typhoid fever 1922
Cozy Dolan 34 Outfielder Boston Braves typhoid fever 1907
Jim Doyle 30 Third baseman Chicago Cubs appendicitis 1912
Paul Edmondson 27 Pitcher Chicago White Sox automobile crash 1970
Charlie Ferguson 25 Pitcher Philadelphia Quakers typhoid fever 1888
José Fernández 24 Pitcher Miami Marlins boating while intoxicated resulting in crash 2016 [10][11]
Neal Finn 29 Second baseman Philadelphia Phillies duodenal ulcer 1933
Jim Fogarty 27 Outfielder Philadelphia Athletics tuberculosis 1891
Danny Frisella 30 Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers dune buggy crash 1977 [2]
Miguel Fuentes 23 Pitcher Seattle Pilots homicide, gunshot 1970
Tom Gastall 24 Catcher Baltimore Orioles drowning despite escaping plane crash wreckage without any injuries 1956 [12]
Marv Goodwin 34 Pitcher Cincinnati Reds plane crash 1925
Marc Hall 27 Pitcher Detroit Tigers diabetes 1915 [13]
Greg Halman 24 Outfielder Seattle Mariners homicide, stabbing 2011 [2][14]
Josh Hancock 29 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals driving while intoxicated resulting in crash 2007 [15]
Clyde Hatter 29 Pitcher Detroit Tigers heart attack 1937
Willard Hershberger 30 Catcher Cincinnati Reds suicide, cut his own throat 1940
Herman Hill 25 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals[c] drowned while swimming 1970
Charlie Hodes 27 Catcher/Outfielder Brooklyn Atlantics tuberculosis 1875 [16]
Ken Hubbs 22 Second baseman Chicago Cubs plane crash 1964 [2]
Addie Joss† 31 Pitcher Cleveland Indians meningitis 1911 [2]
Joe Kennedy 28 Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays[d] hypertensive heart disease 2007 [2]
Darryl Kile 33 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals heart attack 2002 [2]
Len Koenecke 31 Outfielder Brooklyn Dodgers cerebral hemorrhage sustained during a fight on an airplane 1935
Jim Korwan 25 Pitcher Chicago Colts tuberculosis 1899
Joe Leonard 26 Third baseman Washington Senators appendicitis 1920
Walter Lerian 26 Catcher Philadelphia Phillies automobile crash 1929
Cory Lidle 34 Pitcher New York Yankees plane crash 2006 [2]
Pat Luby 30 Pitcher Louisville Colonels tuberculosis 1899
Steve Macko 27 Infielder Chicago Cubs[e] testicular cancer 1981 [17]
Austin McHenry 27 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals brain tumor 1922
Doc McJames 27 Pitcher Brooklyn Superbas[f] tuberculosis, complicated by injuries sustained in a carriage accident 1901 [18]
Alex McKinnon 30 First baseman Pittsburgh Alleghenys typhoid fever 1887
Edgar McNabb 28 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles suicide, gunshot 1894
Win Mercer 28 Pitcher Detroit Tigers suicide by inhalation of illuminating gas 1903
Mike Miley 23 Shortstop California Angels automobile crash 1977 [2]
Tom Miller 26 Catcher St. Louis Brown Stockings indeterminate illness 1876 [19]
Al Montgomery 21 Catcher New York Giants[g] automobile crash 1942
Bob Moose 29 Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates automobile crash 1976 [2]
Ed Morris 32 Pitcher Boston Red Sox homicide, stabbing 1932 [2]
Thurman Munson 32 Catcher New York Yankees plane crash 1979 [2]
Cinders O'Brien 24 Pitcher St. Louis Browns[h] pneumonia 1892
Tom O'Brien 27 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates pneumonia 1901
Steve Olin 27 Pitcher Cleveland Indians boat accident (with Tim Crews) 1993 [2]
Doc Powers 38 Catcher Philadelphia Athletics peritonitis arising from surgery complications following an in-game injury 1909
Jimmy Sebring 27 Outfielder Washington Senators Bright's disease 1909
Ralph Sharman 23 Outfielder Philadelphia A's[i] drowned while in military training 1918 [20][21]
Mike Sharperson 34 Infielder San Diego Padres[j] automobile crash 1996 [22]
Tyler Skaggs 27 Pitcher Los Angeles Angels accidental drug overdose 2019 [23]
Len Sowders 27 Outfielder Baltimore Orioles typhoid malaria 1888
Chick Stahl 34 Outfielder Boston Red Sox suicide by ingestion of carbolic acid 1907 [24]
Dernell Stenson 25 Outfielder Cincinnati Reds homicide, gunshot 2003 [2]
Alan Storke 25 Infielder Cincinnati Reds general streptococcus due to empyema 1910 [25]
Sy Sutcliffe 30 Catcher Baltimore Orioles Bright's disease 1893 [26]
Oscar Taveras 22 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals driving while intoxicated resulting in crash 2014 [27]
Jack Taylor 26 Pitcher Cincinnati Reds nephritis 1900
Al Thake 22 Outfielder Brooklyn Atlantics drowned while fishing 1872
Danny Thompson 29 Shortstop Texas Rangers leukemia 1976 [28]
Jim Umbricht 33 Pitcher Houston Colt .45s malignant melanoma 1964
Yordano Ventura 25 Pitcher Kansas City Royals automobile crash 2017 [29]
Dick Wantz 25 Pitcher California Angels inoperable brain tumor 1965
Elmer White 22 Outfielder Cleveland Forest Citys tuberculosis 1872 [30]
Don Wilson 29 Pitcher Houston Astros carbon monoxide poisoning 1975 [2][31]
Cliff Young 29 Pitcher Cleveland Indians automobile crash 1993
Ross Youngs† 30 Outfielder New York Giants Bright's disease 1927

Former major-league players still active in professional baseball at the time of their death[edit]

Player Age Position Last MLB Team Last Pro Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
John Ake 25 Third baseman Baltimore Orioles Duluth Freezers drowning 1887
Cy Blanton 37 Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies Hollywood Stars cirrhosis 1945 [32]
Walt Bond 29 Outfielder Minnesota Twins Jacksonville Suns[k] leukemia 1967
José Castillo 37 Infielder Houston Astros Cardenales de Lara car crash, murdered (with Luis Valbuena) 2018 [33]
Andújar Cedeño 31 Shortstop Houston Astros Azucareros del Este car crash 2000
Tiny Chaplin 33 Pitcher Boston Bees San Diego Padres automobile accident 1939 [34]
Néstor Chávez 21 Pitcher San Francisco Giants Phoenix Giants plane crash 1969
Woody Crowson 28 Pitcher Philadelphia Athletics Greensboro Patriots bus accident 1947 [35]
Jay Dahl 19 Pitcher Houston Colt .45s Salisbury Astros automobile crash 1965
Miguel del Toro 29 Pitcher San Francisco Giants Seibu Lions car crash 2001
Joe DeSa 27 First baseman Chicago White Sox Ponce Lions car crash 1986
Bo Díaz 37 Catcher Cincinnati Reds Caracas Lions crushed by a falling satellite dish 1990 [36]
John Dodge 27 Third baseman Cincinnati Reds Mobile Sea Gulls hit in the head by a pitch 1916 [37]
Mario Encarnación 30 Outfielder Chicago Cubs Macoto Cobras congenital disorder 2005
Howie Fox 34 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles San Antonio Missions homicide, stabbing 1955 [38]
Rosman García 32 Pitcher Texas Rangers Tigres de Aragua car crash 2011
Geremi González 33 Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers Yomiuri Giants lightning strike 2008 [39]
Miguel Alfredo González 34 Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies Free agent car crash 2017 [40]
Herb Gorman 28 Left fielder St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres cardiac arrest 1953 [41]
Tommy Hanson 29 Pitcher Los Angeles Angels Sacramento River Cats organ failure related to cocaine toxicity 2015 [42]
Dixie Howell 40 Pitcher Chicago White Sox Indianapolis Indians heart attack 1960
Pat Hynes 23 Outfielder St. Louis Browns Milwaukee Brewers homicide 1907 [43]
Henry Krug 31 Outfielder Philadelphia Phillies Indianapolis Indians[l] pneumonia 1908 [44]
John LeRoy 26 Pitcher Atlanta Braves Sioux City Explorers heart attack and brain aneurysm 2001
José Lima 37 Pitcher New York Mets Aguilas Cibaenas heart attack 2010
Andy Marte 33 Infielder Arizona Diamondbacks KT Wiz car crash 2017 [45]
Dan McGann 39 First baseman New York Giants Milwaukee Brewers suicide, gunshot 1910 [46]
José Oliva 26 Third baseman St. Louis Cardinals Brother Elephants car crash 1997
Jiggs Parrott 26 Third baseman Chicago Colts Dubuque Westerns tuberculosis 1898
Charlie Peete 27 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals Omaha Cardinals plane crash 1956
Nick Reeder 27 Third baseman Louisville Colonels Peoria Distillers "brain fever" 1894 [47]
Jim Ritz 22 Third baseman Pittsburgh Pirates Washington Little Senators typhoid fever 1896
Kenny Robinson 29 Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays AZL Diamondbacks automobile crash 1999
Chico Ruiz 33 Infielder California Angels Salt Lake City Angels automobile crash 1972 [2]
Jim Rogers 27 First baseman Louisville Colonels Norwich Witches unknown 1900
William Suero 29 Second baseman Milwaukee Brewers Free agent car crash 1995 [48]
Luis Valbuena 33 Infielder Los Angeles Angels Cardenales de Lara car crash, murdered (with José Castillo) 2018 [33][49]
Daniel Webb 28 Relief pitcher Chicago White Sox Free agent all-terrain vehicle crash 2017
Denny Williams 32 Center fielder Boston Red Sox Portland Beavers automobile crash 1929 [50]

Minor League Baseball[edit]

Minor league players are listed with their major league affiliate team, else denoted with a dagger (†) if their team was unaffiliated.

Player Age Position Last team Organization Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Malcom Anderson 23 Third baseman San Francisco Haverlys — cardiac arrest 1888 [51]
Jesse Batterton 19 Second baseman Springfield Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals struck on the head by a pitch 1933 [52]
Thomas Burke 26 Left fielder Lynn Shoemakers — struck on the head by a pitch 1906 [53]
Jairo Capellan 19 Pitcher DSL Reds Cincinnati Reds automobile crash 2018 [54]
Bobby Joe Case 24 Infielder Mobile Bears New York Mets automobile crash 1962 [55]
Evan Chambers 24 Outfielder GCL Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates heart defect 2013 [56]
Louis Chedo 23 Pitcher Decatur Commodores — struck on the head by a pitch 1925 [57]
Thomas Coates — Outfielder Oshkosh Indians — unintentional discharge of firearm 1909 [58]
William Coffey 22 Pitcher Pampa Oilers — automobile crash 1951 [59]
Brian Cole 22 Outfielder Scottsdale Scorpions New York Mets automobile crash 2001 [60]
Dick Conway 19 Catcher Twin Falls Cowboys New York Yankees struck in the heart by a thrown ball 1951 [61]
Ryan Costello 23 Infielder Pensacola Blue Wahoos Minnesota Twins sudden cardiac arrhythmia 2019 [62][63]
Aaron Cox 24 Pitcher Inland Empire 66ers Los Angeles Angels self-inflicted gunshot wound 2018 [64][65]
James Davis 20 Outfielder Ballinger Cats — struck on the head by a pitch 1947 [66]
Linus Ebnet 23 Shortstop Winnipeg Maroons — struck on the head by a pitch 1938 [66]
Alfredo Edmead 17 Outfielder Salem Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates brain trauma from in-game outfield collision 1974 [67]
Lute Freeland 28 Pitcher New Orleans Pelicans — blood poisoning 1902 [68][69]
Ronny Garcia 24 Pitcher York Revolution — car crash 2024 [70]
Miguel Gonzalez 21 Pitcher DSL Orioles Baltimore Orioles car crash 2017 [71]
Louis Henke — First baseman Atlanta Atlantas — internal bleeding from a collision on the base path 1885 [72]
Red Herbert 18 First baseman Dayton Veterans — internal bleeding from a collision on the base path 1904 [73]
Happy Hogan 37 Catcher / Manager Vernon Tigers — pneumonia 1915 [74]
Ossie Johnson — Outfielder Oakland Oaks — blood poisoning 1924 [75]
Ottis Johnson 24 Outfielder Dothan Browns — struck on the head by a pitch 1951 [76]
Yorman Landa 22 Pitcher Fort Myers Miracle Minnesota Twins car crash 2016 [77]
Anthony Latham 21 Outfielder Winston-Salem Red Sox Boston Red Sox boat accident 1983 [78]
Pete Mann 27 Third baseman Macon Peaches — struck in the chest by a pitch 1927 [79][80]
Andres Melendez 20 Catcher Lynchburg Hillcats Cleveland Guardians Multiple Organ Failure 2021 [81][82]
Doug Million 21 Pitcher New Haven Ravens Colorado Rockies asthma attack 1997 [83]
Sean Murphy 27 Pitcher Sacramento River Cats Oakland Athletics Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 2016 [84]
Ernest Nichols 22 Pitcher Spokane Indians — cardiac arrest 1903 [85]
Chace Numata 27 Catcher Erie SeaWolves Detroit Tigers injuries sustained in skateboarding accident 2019 [86]
Bob Osgood 19 Catcher Marion Cubs Chicago Cubs cardiac arrest 1948 [87]
Corey Phelan 20 Relief pitcher FCL Phillies Philadelphia Phillies T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) 2022 [88][89]
Charles Pinkney 20 Second basemen Dayton Veterans — struck on the head by a pitch 1909 [90]
Billy Rakes 24 Third basemen Reidsville Luckies — automobile crash 1953 [91]
Ernest Regenold 25 Pitcher Springfield Senators — cardiac arrest and heat stroke 1926 [92]
Russell Reynolds 24 Catcher Huntington Red Birds — struck on the head by a pitch 1935 [93]
Lionel Rodgers 21 Utility Fresno Giants San Francisco Giants automobile crash 1961 [94]
Ronaldo Romero 19 Pitcher Gastonia Rangers Texas Rangers cardiomyopathy, Supac use was a contributing factor 1990 [95]
Victor Sanchez 20 Pitcher Leones del Caracas Seattle Mariners struck by a boat while swimming 2015 [2]
Fausto Segura 23 Pitcher Auburn Doubledays Washington Nationals motorcycle crash 2020 [96]
Bill Seinsoth 22 First basemen Bakersfield Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers automobile crash 1969 [97]
Leo Smith 19 Third baseman Kokomo Wild Cats — internal bleeding from a collision on the base path 1909 [98]
Mac Smith 23 Infielder Hagerstown Packets Washington Senators cardiac arrest 1954 [99]
Andy Strong 24 Center fielder Crowley Millers — lightning strike during game 1951 [100]
George Tkach 21 Second baseman Superior Blues — struck on the head by a pitch 1936 [101]
Casey Thomas 24 Infielder Arizona League Athletics Oakland Athletics painkiller overdose 2017 [102]
Herbert Whitney 27 Catcher Burlington Pathfinders — struck on the head by a pitch 1906 [103]
Lefty Wycoff — Pitcher Canton Terriers — struck by automobile 1929 [104]

Nippon Professional Baseball[edit]

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Lou Jackson 33 Outfielder Sankei Atoms pancreatic necrosis 1969 [105]
Hiroyuki Oze 24 Outfielder Orix Buffaloes suicide 2010 [106]
Yūsuke Kinoshita 27 Pitcher Chunichi Dragons myocarditis 2021 [107]

KBO League[edit]

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Kim Young-Sin (baseball) [ko] 24 Catcher OB Bears Drowning suspected to be suicide 1986 [108]
Kim Dae-Hyeon (pitcher, born 1962) [ko] 26 Pitcher Haitai Tigers car accident 1988 [109]
Kim Sang-Jin (pitcher, born 1977) [ko] 22 Pitcher Haitai Tigers stomach cancer 1999 [110]
Lee Kyoo-hwan (baseball) [ko] 22 Outfielder Doosan Bears fell down the stairs 2012 [111]
Lee Doo-hwan [ko] 24 First baseman KIA Tigers Osteosarcoma 2012 [112]
Lee Jang-hui (baseball) [ko] 24 Infielder LG Twins found dead after falling near a parking lot 2013 [113]
Andy Marte 33 Infielder kt wiz car accident 2017 [114]
Kim Sung-Hun (pitcher, born 1998) [ko] 21 pitcher Hanwha Eagles death in a fall from a building 2019 [115]

Negro leagues[edit]

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
William Bedford 23 Outfielder Cuban Giants lightning strike 1909 [116]
George Fleischman 24 Catcher Stapleton Baseball Club struck on head by a pitch 1908 [117]
John Garcia 28 Catcher Cuban Giants cardiac arrest during game 1904 [118]
Josh Gibson† 35 Catcher Homestead Grays brain tumor and stroke 1947
Clifford Larkins 21 Catcher Zulu Cannibal Giants struck on the throat by a pitch 1937 [119]
José Leblanc 28 Pitcher Cuban Stars hit on the head by a bat during an in-game argument 1922
Porter Moss 34 Pitcher Memphis Red Sox homicide, gunshot 1944
Ben Myers 19–20 Catcher Southern Star Baseball Club broken neck, struck by a passed ball 1890 [120]
Pythias Russ 26 Catcher Chicago American Giants tuberculosis 1930
Clyde Nelson 32 Infielder Indianapolis Clowns cardiac arrest during game 1949 [121]
Chino Smith 28 Outfielder Lincoln Giants yellow fever 1932
Frank Warfield 35 Second baseman / manager Washington Pilots heart attack 1932
George Washington 34 Pitcher Philadelphia Giants cardiac arrest 1908 [121]
Charlie Williams 27 Shortstop Chicago American Giants ptomaine poisoning 1931

Dutch League Baseball[edit]

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Hartog Hamburger 37 Infielder OVVO hit by line drive ball on head 1924

College baseball[edit]

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Sang Ho Baek 20 Pitcher George Mason blood clot from complications from Tommy John surgery 2021 [122]
Curtis Brenneman 17 Second baseman Gettysburg struck on head by a pitch 1926 [123]
Derek Becker 21 Middle infielder Keiser homicide, gunshot 2020 [124]
Chris Lane 22 Catcher East Central homicide, gunshot 2013 [125]
Robert Brown 19 unknown Howard County JC electrocuted while erecting a foul pole that fell on a powerline 1953 [126]
Randy Collins 22 Pitcher / Outfielder Vanderbilt automobile crash 1973 [127]
Donny Everett 19 Pitcher Vanderbilt drowned 2016 [128]
Joseph Geddings 20 Catcher Appalachian State struck on head by a pitch 1964 [129]
Ira Goodlet 18 unknown Arkansas Cumberland struck on head by a pitch 1908 [130]
James Mair — Second baseman Monmouth cerebral hemorrhage, collided with a teammate 1896 [131]
Hervey Mangham 19 Right fielder Louisiana State struck on head by a pitch 1908 [132]
Cassel Mowrey 21 First baseman West Virginia struck on head by a pitch 1923 [133]
Gene Reynolds 18 unknown Howard County JC electrocuted while erecting a foul pole that fell on a powerline 1953 [126]
Tim Trunk 19 Pitcher Bradley automobile crash 1989 [134]
Walter Zorn 19 unknown St. John's (Kansas) struck on head by a pitch 1950 [135]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Barrios was a free agent at the time of his death, although he was reportedly about to sign a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on the day he died. He had last been on a major league roster in 1981, with the Chicago White Sox.
  2. ^ Crews played his entire six-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the end of the 1992 season he became a free agent and signed with the Cleveland Indians on January 22, 1993. He died during spring training.
  3. ^ Hill's only major league playing experience was with the Minnesota Twins in 1969 and '70. About three weeks after the 1970 season ended, Hill was traded to St. Louis. However, Hill never actually played for St. Louis, as he died during that off-season.
  4. ^ Technically, Kennedy was a free agent at the time of his death, having been granted free agency by Toronto about three weeks prior.
  5. ^ Macko last played in August of 1980, when he was injured in a game. The injury was severe enough to keep him on the disabled list for the rest of 1980. In the course of doctor's examinations over the winter in early 1981, Macko was discovered to have cancer, which he fought through 1981. He traveled with the Cubs and remained on the disabled list through the entire 1981 season.
  6. ^ Technically, McJames was no longer actively involved in baseball at the time of his death. He had been released by Brooklyn in July, due the effects of tuberculosis. McJames was working as a doctor at the time of his death nine weeks later in September; the tuberculosis which ended his baseball career was a factor in his death.
  7. ^ Montgomery's only major league playing experience came with the Boston Braves in 1941. He was sold to the Giants in February of 1942, and spent spring training with the Giants. Montgomery died in a car accident on the trip north, before the start of the regular season.
  8. ^ O'Brien played for the Boston Reds in 1891 but was under contract with the St. Louis Browns at the time of his death before the start of the 1892 season.
  9. ^ Sharman was one of eight one-time Major League Baseball players known either to have been killed or died from illness while serving in the armed forces during World War I, but the only one who went directly from a major league career (concluding the 1917 season with the A's) to the military.
  10. ^ Technically, Sharperson was still a minor league player at the time of his death. The Padres had summoned Sharperson to join the major league team, to be on hand if he were needed in the event of an injury. (Sharperson died on the journey.) However, he had not been activated as a major league player at the time of his death, and quite possibly might not have been activated even had he arrived safely. Sharperson had last been on a major league roster with the Atlanta Braves in 1995.
  11. ^ Bond, who had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1962, had been playing with the Minnesota Twins until he was released on May 15, 1967. He was picked up by the Jacksonville Suns, the triple-A team of the New York Mets, but only played three games with Jacksonville before he had to enter a hospital for treatment. He died September 14.
  12. ^ Krug last played for the Indianapolis Indians in 1907 but was under contract with the minor league Johnstown Johnnies at the time of his death in January 1908.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Saint Onge, Rogers & Krueger 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Dittmeier, Bobbie (November 21, 2011). "Tragic deaths of Major Leaguers". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ^ "Francisco Barrios, a former pitcher for the Chicago White...," United Press International (UPI), Saturday, April 10, 1982. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Murphy, Jarrett (February 17, 2003). "Ephedra Tied To Pitcher's Death". CBS News. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Arcidiacono, David. Major League Baseball in Gilded Age Connecticut: The Rise and Fall of the Middletown, New Haven and Hartford Clubs, McFarland, 2009, p. 195. ISBN 0786436778
  6. ^ Blair had signed a contract to spend the 1890 season with the Chicago Cubs, but he died as a result of illness before games began. He had last appeared in the majors with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1888. "Death Of A Ball Player Archived September 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine", The New York Times, published February 23, 1890, accessed August 21, 2006.
  7. ^ Pearlman, Jeff. "Fifth and Jackson". espn.go.com. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  8. ^ "'King' Cole, Yank Pitcher Is Dead". The Washington Post. January 7, 1916. Retrieved January 4, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Egan, James M. Base Ball on the Western Reserve: The Early Game in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, Year by Year and Town by Town, 1865–1900, McFarland, 2008, p. 162.
  10. ^ "Marlins ace Fernandez dies in boating accident". ESPN.com. September 25, 2016.
  11. ^ "Marlins star Jose Fernandez dies in boating accident at 24". sports.yahoo.com.
  12. ^ "Orioles' Rookie Drowned in Bay," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, September 28, 1956. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tiger Pitcher Dies at Home in Joplin". Escanaba Morning Press. Escanaba, Michigan. February 27, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved March 31, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Honkballer Halman omgekomen bij steekpartij". NU. November 21, 2011.
  15. ^ "Police: Hancock was drunk, had marijuana in his car," ESPN.com, Friday, May 4, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  16. ^ Russo, Frank. The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014, p. 91. ISBN 144223640X
  17. ^ "Services for Chicago Cubs second baseman Steve Macko will...," United Press International (UPI), Monday, November 16, 1981. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  18. ^ Keenan, Jimmy. "Doc McJames". Society for American Baseball Research. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  19. ^ Hershberger, Richard. "SABR Baseball Biography Project – Tom Miller", sabr.org, November 17, 2011.
  20. ^ "World War I Deaths". Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  21. ^ "Sharman and Dell in Artillery". New-York Tribune. November 4, 1917.
  22. ^ Nightengale, Bob (May 27, 1996). "Sharperson, Former Dodger, Dies in Crash". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  23. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (July 1, 2019). "Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs passes away". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  24. ^ ""Chick" Stahl A Suicide – Late Boston Manager Takes Carbolic Acid at West Baden". New York Times. March 29, 1907. p. 11. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  25. ^ "Alan Storke Dies Suddenly" (PDF). The New York Times. March 19, 1910. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  26. ^ "Sy Sutcliffe". sabr.org. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  27. ^ Brown, David (July 20, 2015). "Life Without Oscar". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  28. ^ "Danny Thompson, Infielder For Texas Baseball Team, Is Dead of Leukemia at 29," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, December 11, 1976. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  29. ^ Kalland, Robby (January 22, 2017). "Royals Pitcher Yordano Ventura Was Killed In A Fatal Car Accident In The Dominican Republic". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  30. ^ Batesel, Paul. Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871–1875, McFarland, 2012, p. 131. ISBN 0786490764
  31. ^ "Wilson of Astros Is Found Dead". The New York Times. January 6, 1975. Archived from the original on October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  32. ^ Wolf, Gregory H. "Cy Blanton". Society for American Baseball Research. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  33. ^ a b Fletcher, Jeff (December 6, 2018). "Former Angels infielder Luis Valbuena killed in car accident in Venezuela". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  34. ^ Forr, James; Proctor, David (1 February 2010). Pie Traynor: A Baseball Biography. McFarland & Co. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7864-4385-7. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  35. ^ Harner, Andrew. "August 17, 1947: After Woody Crowson dies in bus accident, Greensboro and Raleigh play in his honor". Society for American Baseball Research. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  36. ^ "Diaz Crushed to Death in Accident". The New York Times. Associated Press. 24 November 1990. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  37. ^ Betsch, Chris. "June 18, 1916: The death of Johnny Dodge". Society for American Baseball Research. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  38. ^ Howie Fox stabbed to death. Telegraph Herald. October 9, 1955. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  39. ^ "Former MLB pitcher Gonzalez killed by lightning strike". ESPN.com. May 26, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  40. ^ "Former Cuban star and Phillies pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez dies at 34". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  41. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3432 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  42. ^ Bowman, Mark (November 11, 2015). "Former Braves, Angels pitcher Hanson dies at 29". MLB.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  43. ^ "Baseball Player Killed". The Roswell Daily Herald. Roswell, New Mexico. 12 March 1907. p. 1. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  44. ^ "Johnny Player Dead". Altoona Times. 18 January 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  45. ^ Axisa, Mike (January 22, 2017). "Former top MLB prospect Andy Marte, 33, killed in car crash". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  46. ^ "Dan McGann a Suicide – Giants' Former Captain Shoots Himself in a Hotel at Louisville". New York Times. December 14, 910. p. 14. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  47. ^ "A Ball Player Dead". The Leaf-Chronicle. 28 September 1894. p. 4. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  48. ^ Coward, Marty (21 December 1995). "Ex-Carolina 2nd bagger killed in D.R. car crash". Gold Leaf Farmer. p. 2B. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  49. ^ "Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo killed in car crash caused by bandits". ESPN. December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  50. ^ "Baseball Player Killed". The Knoxville Journal. 25 March 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  51. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3404 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  52. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 413 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  53. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 353 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  54. ^ "Reds prospect Jairo Capellan dies in car accident in Dominican Republic". November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  55. ^ "Pro Baseball Player Killed". Clarion-Ledger. 28 February 1962. p. 17. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  56. ^ "Honoring Evan: Chambers Nights Held Where He Played Baseball". July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  57. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 405 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  58. ^ "The Baseball Player Accidentally Killed". The Brunswick News. 12 October 1909. p. 8. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  59. ^ "Baseball Player Killed in Crash". The Times. San Mateo, California. 10 December 1951. p. 14. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  60. ^ "The Best Player You Never Saw". Sports Illustrated. April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  61. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 1617 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  62. ^ Daren Smith (November 18, 2019). "Twins' Costello found dead in New Zealand". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  63. ^ "Family of pro baseball player Ryan Costello files wrongful death lawsuit in Lee County". 4 February 2022.
  64. ^ Friedman, Tom McGurk and Josh. "Baseball prospect Aaron Cox, Mike Trout's brother-in-law, dies at 24". The Daily Journal.
  65. ^ "Mike Trout, Angels organization still reeling from death of Aaron Cox". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 2018.
  66. ^ a b Gorman, Weeks, p. 452 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  67. ^ "Doughty: 1974 death of Alfredo Edmead still haunts". Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  68. ^ "New Orleans 4, Nashville 0". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. July 28, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved May 3, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "Pitcher Freeland's Funeral". The Times-Democrat. New Orleans. July 29, 1902. p. 9. Retrieved May 3, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  70. ^ "Former Houston Astros pitching prospect Ronny Garcia dies at 24, team says". ABC13 Houston. 20 April 2024. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  71. ^ Gartland, Dan. "21-year-old Orioles prospect dies in car accident". Sports Illustrated.
  72. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 2915 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  73. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 2928 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  74. ^ "Assumed Names–Happy Hogan". Baseball History Daily. 11 January 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  75. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 2333 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  76. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 465 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  77. ^ Berardino, Mike (December 10, 2016). "Minnesota Twins prospect Yorman Landa, 22, dies in car accident". twincities.com.
  78. ^ Pearlman, Jeff. "Tragedy at sea brings back chilling memories of Anthony Latham". Sports Illustrated. ABG-SI LLC. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  79. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 1313 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  80. ^ "Pete Mann Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  81. ^ Bell, Mandy (16 December 2021). "Guardians prospect Meléndez dies at 20". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  82. ^ Hoynes, Paul (15 January 2022). "What caused the death of Cleveland Guardians' catcher Andres Melendez? Hey, Hoynsie". Cleveland.com. Advance Local. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  83. ^ Hutchinson, Barney (September 24, 1997). "Million dies of asthma attack". The Hastings Star Gazette. Hastings, Minnesota – via thedeadballera.com.
  84. ^ Hickey, John (21 September 2016). "A's minor leaguer Sean Murphy ruled to have died of heart disease". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  85. ^ "Baseball Player Drops Dead". Weekly Oregon Statesman. 24 July 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  86. ^ Guillen, Joe; Seidel, Jeff. "Detroit Tigers minor leaguer Chace Numata dies from injuries in skateboarding accident". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
  87. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3417 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  88. ^ Coffey, Alex (13 October 2022). "Phillies minor leaguer Corey Phelan dies at 20 after battle with cancer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  89. ^ "Phillies minor leaguer Phelan dies of cancer at 20". ESPN.com. 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  90. ^ Lammers, Craig. "Charles Pinkney". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  91. ^ "Baseball Player Killed". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 16 August 1953. p. 27. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  92. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3405 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  93. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 426 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  94. ^ "Baseball Player Killed". The Shreveport Journal. 12 January 1961. p. 29. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  95. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3473 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  96. ^ "Nationals' Segura dies in accident". MiLB.com.
  97. ^ "Rites Are Set For Promising Baseball Player Killed In Crash". The Sacramento Bee. 9 September 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  98. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 2941 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  99. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3445 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  100. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3877 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  101. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 436 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  102. ^ Slusser, Susan (August 5, 2017). "A's minor-leaguer died of painkiller overdose". SFGATE.
  103. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 304 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  104. ^ "Baseball player recognized body of Lefty Wycoff". The Akron Beacon Journal. 7 October 1929. p. 19. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  105. ^ Allen, Malcolm. "Lou Jackson". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  106. ^ Orix Buffaloes outfielder Hiroyuki Oze found dead in Okinawa Archived 2010-02-07 at the Wayback Machine, Mainichi Daily News, February 5, 2010.
  107. ^ "中日・木下雄介投手がワクチン接種後に「重篤」危機 専門家は「接種を忌避しないで」と訴え" (in Japanese). August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  108. ^ "이라부 사망으로 본 요절한 야구스타/ 86년 25세 나이에 익사한 OB 김영신, 프로야구 첫 영구 결번". July 29, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  109. ^ "타이거스 김대현 투수 오늘 교통 사고로 숨져". August 27, 1988. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  110. ^ "해태투수 김상진,위암으로 사망". June 11, 1996. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  111. ^ "'실족사' 두산 이규환, 계단 틈 사이 추락 추정". January 10, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  112. ^ "이두환, 암 투병 중 끝내 사망". December 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  113. ^ "야구선수 이장희 사망 "마지막 경기 3타수 3안타 1볼넷 최고였는데…"". July 16, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  114. ^ "Andy Marte dies at 33 in car crash". January 22, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  115. ^ "프로야구 한화 이글스 투수 김성훈, 광주서 추락사(종합)". November 23, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  116. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3890 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  117. ^ Weeks, David; Gorman, Robert M. (2015). Death at the Ballpark: More Than 2,000 Game-Related Fatalities of Players, Other Personnel and Spectators in Amateur and Professional Baseball, 1862-2014 (2nd, Kindle ed.). McFarland. p. 505.
  118. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3485 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  119. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 1339 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  120. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 1554 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  121. ^ a b Gorman, Weeks, p. 3468 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  122. ^ Diaz, Johnny (2021-06-19). "College Baseball Player in Virginia Dies After Joint Surgery". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  123. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 968 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  124. ^ Roustan, Wayne K.; Webb, Robin (January 28, 2021). "$5,000 reward for information leading to college ballplayer's killer". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  125. ^ Ehrenfreund, Max (21 August 2013). "Christopher Lane, Australian college athlete, was killed 'for the fun of it,' say prosecutors". Washington Post. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  126. ^ a b Gorman, Weeks, p. 4363 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  127. ^ "Bama Baseball Player Killed". The Times and Democrat. 5 December 1973. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  128. ^ Sparks, Adam (2016-06-03). "Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett dies in drowning accident". The Tennessean. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  129. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 1270 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  130. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 693 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  131. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 3015 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  132. ^ "Death of Hervey Mangham". Natchez Democrat. 21 April 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  133. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 946 (2nd, Kindle edition)
  134. ^ "Bradley baseball player killed". The Palm Beach Post. 17 May 1989. p. 32. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  135. ^ Gorman, Weeks, p. 2548 (2nd, Kindle edition)

Sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Lee, Bill (2009), Baseball Necrology, McFarland, ISBN 978-0786442393
  • Bedingfield, Gary (2009), Baseball's Dead of World War II, McFarland, ISBN 978-0786444540
  • Baltov, Victor (2010), "Jaws (There is a Shark in the Water)", Baseball Is America, AuthorHouse, pp. 253–276, ISBN 9781452004884
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_baseball_players_who_died_during_their_careers&oldid=1220297792"