List of baseball players who died during their careers

This is a list of baseball players who died during their careers. These deaths occurred during a game, due to illness, or as a result of accidents.

Repeated studies have shown that Major League Baseball players have a greater life expectancy than males in the general US population — about five years more, on average. This is attributed to their superior fitness and greater height. 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]

Causes of deaths during a player's career include the aftermath of beanball. Being struck on the head by a ball was the most common cause of death before batting helmets were introduced to prevent this. Over a hundred batters have been killed in this way.[2] Other players died from commotio cordis — heart failure due to a blow on the chest causing the heart to quiver rather than pump correctly. Young players such as Little Leaguers are most susceptible to this and suffer two or three deaths from this cause each year.[3]

Deaths of active players

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

dagger Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Major League Baseball

Minor-league players are listed with their major-league affiliations.

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Acevedo, SandySandy Acevedo 18 Third baseman New York Yankees car accident 2016 [4]
Adenhart, NickNick Adenhart 22 Pitcher Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim car accident 2009 [5]
Agganis, HarryHarry Agganis 26 First baseman Boston Red Sox pulmonary embolism 1955 [5]
Bechler, SteveSteve Bechler 23 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles complications from use of Ephedra 2003 [6]
Bentley, CyCy Bentley 22 Pitcher Middletown Mansfields tuberculosis 1873 [7]
Bergen, MartyMarty Bergen 28 Catcher Boston Beaneaters suicide after murdering his family 1900
Blair, BillBill Blair 26 Pitcher Chicago Cubs Influenza 1890
Boeckel, TonyTony Boeckel 31 Third baseman Boston Braves car accident 1924
Bond, WaltWalt Bond 29 Outfielder Minnesota Twins leukemia 1967
Bonham, TinyTiny Bonham 36 Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates appendicitis 1949
Bostock, LymanLyman Bostock 27 Outfielder California Angels homicide 1978 [8]
Carlson, HalHal Carlson 38 Pitcher Chicago Cubs stomach hemorrhage 1930
Cassidy, JoeJoe Cassidy 23 Shortstop Washington Senators purpura hemorrhagia 1905
Chambers, EvanEvan Chambers 24 Center Field Pittsburgh Pirates died in sleep of cardiac arrhythmia 2013 [9][10]
Chapman, RayRay Chapman 29 Shortstop Cleveland Indians hit by pitch in game 1920 [5]
Chappell, LarryLarry Chappell 27 Outfielder Boston Braves Influenza pandemic 1918
Chávez, NéstorNéstor Chávez 21 Pitcher San Francisco Giants plane crash 1969
Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clementedagger 38 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates plane crash 1972 [5]
Cole, BrianBrian Cole 22 Outfielder New York Mets car accident 2001 [11]
Cole, KingKing Cole 29 Pitcher New York Yankees tuberculosis 1916
Collins, HubHub Collins 28 Second baseman Brooklyn Dodgers typhoid fever 1892
Crews, TimTim Crews 31 Pitcher Cleveland Indians boat accident that killed teammate Steve Olin and injured teammate Bobby Ojeda 1993 [5]
Cross, AmosAmos Cross 28 Catcher Louisville Colonels tuberculosis 1888 [12]
Dahl, JayJay Dahl 19 Pitcher Houston Colt .45s car accident 1965
Darr, MikeMike Darr 25 Outfielder San Diego Padres car accident 2002 [5]
Daubert, JakeJake Daubert 40 First baseman Cincinnati Reds appendicitis 1924
Delahanty, EdEd Delahantydagger 35 Outfielder Washington Senators swept over Niagara Falls 1903 [5]
DeSa, JoeJoe DeSa 27 First baseman Chicago White Sox car accident 1986
Dillhoefer, PicklesPickles Dillhoefer 28 Catcher St. Louis Cardinals typhoid fever 1922
Dodge, JohnJohn Dodge 27 Third baseman Cincinnati Reds hit by pitch during game 1916
Dolan, CozyCozy Dolan 34 Outfielder Boston Braves typhoid fever 1907
Doyle, JimJim Doyle 30 Third baseman Chicago Cubs burst appendix 1912
Edmead, AlfredoAlfredo Edmead 18 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates on-field collision with teammate 1974 [13][14]
Edmondson, PaulPaul Edmondson 27 Pitcher Chicago White Sox car accident 1970
Encarnación, MarioMario Encarnación 30 Outfielder Macoto Cobras congenital disorder 2005
Ferguson, CharlieCharlie Ferguson 25 Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies typhoid fever 1888
Finn, NealNeal Finn 29 Second baseman Philadelphia Phillies duodenal ulcer 1933
Fogarty, JimJim Fogarty 27 Outfielder Philadelphia Phillies tuberculosis 1891
Frisella, DannyDanny Frisella 30 Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers dune buggy accident 1977 [5]
Fuentes, MiguelMiguel Fuentes 23 Pitcher Seattle Pilots murdered in a bar in Loíza, Puerto Rico 1970
Garcia, RosmanRosman Garcia 32 Pitcher Tigres de Aragua car crash 2011
Gastall, TomTom Gastall 24 Catcher Baltimore Orioles plane crash 1956
Gedeon, ElmerElmer Gedeon 27 Outfielder Washington Senators killed in World War II 1944
González, GeremiGeremi González 33 Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers lightning strike 2008 [15]
Goodwin, MarvMarv Goodwin 34 Pitcher Cincinnati Reds plane crash 1925
Grant, EddieEddie Grant 35 Second baseman New York Giants killed in World War I 1918
Hall, MarcMarc Hall 27 Pitcher Detroit Tigers diabetes 1915
Halman, GregGreg Halman 24 Outfielder Seattle Mariners homicide, killed by his brother 2011 [5][16]
Hancock, JoshJosh Hancock 29 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals car accident 2007
Hanson, TommyTommy Hanson 29 Pitcher San Francisco Giants catastrophic organ failure 2015 [17]
Hershberger, WillardWillard Hershberger 30 Catcher Cincinnati Reds suicide 1940
Hill, HermanHerman Hill 25 Outfielder Minnesota Twins drowned while swimming 1970
Hodes, CharlieCharlie Hodes 27 Catcher/Outfielder Brooklyn Atlantics tuberculosis 1875 [18]
Hubbs, KenKen Hubbs 22 second baseman Chicago Cubs plane crash 1964 [5]
Joss, AddieAddie Jossdagger 31 Pitcher Cleveland Indians meningitis 1911 [5]
Kellogg, DustinDustin Kellogg 18 Pitcher Houston Astros car accident 2011
Kennedy, JoeJoe Kennedy 28 Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays hypertensive heart disease 2007 [5]
Kile, DarrylDarryl Kile 33 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals heart defect 2002 [5]
Koenecke, LenLen Koenecke 31 Outfielder Brooklyn Dodgers killed in fight 1935
Korwan, JimJim Korwan 25 Pitcher Chicago Colts tuberculosis 1899
Leonard, JoeJoe Leonard 26 Third baseman Washington Senators appendicitis 1920
Lerian, WalterWalter Lerian 26 Catcher Philadelphia Phillies car accident 1929
Lidle, CoryCory Lidle 34 Pitcher New York Yankees Plane crash 2006 [5]
Lima, JoséJosé Lima 37 Pitcher Aguilas Cibaenas Heart attack 2010
Luby, PatPat Luby 30 Pitcher Louisville Colonels tuberculosis 1899
Macko, SteveSteve Macko 27 Infielder Chicago Cubs cancer 1981
McGann, DanDan McGann 39 First baseman New York Giants suicide 1910
McHenry, AustinAustin McHenry 27 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals brain tumor 1922
McJames, DocDoc McJames 27 Pitcher Brooklyn Superbas tuberculosis, complicated by injuries sustained when he was struck by a runaway carriage 1901
McKinnon, AlexAlex McKinnon 30 First baseman Pittsburgh Pirates typhoid fever 1887
McNabb, EdgarEdgar McNabb 28 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles suicide 1894
Mercer, WinWin Mercer 28 Pitcher Detroit Tigers suicide (gas inhalation) 1903
Miley, MikeMike Miley 23 Shortstop California Angels car accident 1977 [5]
Miller, TomTom Miller 26 Catcher St. Louis Brown Stockings illness 1876 [19]
Million, DougDoug Million 21 Pitcher Colorado Rockies asthma attack 1997
Montgomery, AlAl Montgomery 21 Catcher Boston Braves car accident 1941
Moose, BobBob Moose 29 Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates car accident 1976 [5]
Morris, EdEd Morris 32 Pitcher Boston Red Sox stabbed to death in a tavern in Century, Florida 1932 [5]
Munson, ThurmanThurman Munson 32 Catcher New York Yankees plane crash 1979 [5]
O'Brien, TomTom O'Brien 27 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates Pneumonia 1901
Olin, SteveSteve Olin 27 Pitcher Cleveland Indians boat accident that killed teammate Tim Crews and injured teammate Bobby Ojeda 1993 [5]
Oliva, JoséJosé Oliva 26 Third baseman St. Louis Cardinals car accident 1997
Parrott, JiggsJiggs Parrott 26 Third baseman Chicago Colts tuberculosis 1898
Peete, CharlieCharlie Peete 27 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals plane crash 1956
Powers, DocDoc Powers 38 Catcher Philadelphia Athletics peritonitis arising from post-surgery infections due to injuries sustained during a game 1909
Ramirez, RamonRamon Ramirez 23 Infielder Baltimore Orioles motorcycle accident 2016 [20]
Ritz, JimJim Ritz 22 Third baseman Pittsburgh Pirates typhoid fever 1896
Rogers, JimJim Rogers 27 First baseman Louisville Colonels Unknown 1900
Rosario, JoseJose Rosario 20 Pitcher Houston Astros motorcycle accident 2016 [21]
Ruiz, ChicoChico Ruiz 33 Infielder California Angels car accident 1972 [5]
Sanchez, VictorVictor Sanchez 20 Pitcher Seattle Mariners boat accident 2015 [5]
Sebring, JimmyJimmy Sebring 27 Outfielder Washington Senators Bright's disease 1909
Sharman, RalphRalph Sharman 23 Outfielder Philadelphia Athletics drowning 1918
Sharperson, MikeMike Sharperson 34 Infielder San Diego Padres car accident 1996 [22]
Sowders, LenLen Sowders 27 Outfielder Baltimore Orioles Unknown 1888
Stahl, ChickChick Stahl 34 Outfielder Boston Red Sox suicide 1907
Stenson, DernellDernell Stenson 25 Outfielder Cincinnati Reds murdered during robbery 2003 [5]
Storke, AlanAlan Storke 25 Infielder Cincinnati Reds general streptococcus due to empyema 1910 [23]
Sutcliffe, SySy Sutcliffe 30 Catcher Baltimore Orioles appendicitis 1893
Taveras, OscarOscar Taveras 22 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals car accident 2014 [24]
Taylor, JackJack Taylor 26 Pitcher Cincinnati Reds nephritis 1900
Thake, AlAl Thake 22 Outfielder Brooklyn Atlantics drowned while fishing 1872
Thompson, DannyDanny Thompson 29 Infielder Texas Rangers leukemia 1976
Umbricht, JimJim Umbricht 33 Pitcher Houston Colt .45's malignant melanoma 1964
Wantz, DickDick Wantz 25 Pitcher California Angels inoperable brain tumor 1965
White, ElmerElmer White 22 Outfielder Cleveland Forest Citys lung disease 1872 [25]
Wilson, DonDon Wilson 29 Pitcher Houston Astros Carbon monoxide poisoning 1975 [5][26]
Young, CliffCliff Young 29 Pitcher Cleveland Indians car accident 1993
Youngs, RossRoss Youngsdagger 30 Outfielder New York Giants Bright's disease 1927

Negro League Baseball

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Gibson, JoshJosh Gibsondagger 35 Catcher Homestead Grays brain tumor and stroke 1947
Russ, PythiasPythias Russ 26 Catcher Chicago American Giants tuberculosis 1930
Smith, ChinoChino Smith 28 Outfielder Lincoln Giants yellow fever 1932
Warfield, FrankFrank Warfield 35 Second baseman/manager Washington Pilots heart attack 1932
Williams, CharlieCharlie Williams 27 Shortstop Chicago American Giants ptomaine poisoning 1931

Dutch League Baseball

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Hamburger, HartogHartog Hamburger 37 Infielder OVVO hit by line drive ball on head 1924

See also

References

  1. ↑ Saint Onge, Rogers & Krueger 2008.
  2. ↑ Gorman & Weeks 2009.
  3. ↑ Abrunzo 1991.
  4. ↑ http://m.mlb.com/news/article/174221030/yankees-prospect-sandy-acevedo-passes-away
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Dittmeier, Bobbie (November 21, 2011). "Tragic deaths of Major Leaguers". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ Murphy, Jarrett (February 17, 2003). "Ephedra Tied To Pitcher's Death". CBS News. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ 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
  8. ↑ Pearlman, Jeff. "Fifth and Jackson". espn.go.com. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ Wild, Danny (December 2, 2013). "Former LHS Athlete Died of Heart Condition". milb.com. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Former LHS Athlete Died of Heart Condition". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida). 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  11. ↑ "The Best Player You Never Saw". Sports Illustrated. April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ "Gammons: Take heed the Edmead incident". MLB.com. August 8, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Scorecard: A Sad Loss". Sports Illustrated. September 2, 1974. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Former MLB pitcher Gonzalez killed by lightning strike". ESPN.com. May 26, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ (Dutch) Honkballer Halman omgekomen bij steekpartij
  17. ↑ Bowman, Mark (November 11, 2015). "Former Braves, Angels pitcher Hanson dies at 29". MLB.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  18. ↑ Russo, Frank. The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014, p. 91. ISBN 144223640X
  19. ↑ Hershberger, Richard. "SABR Baseball Biography Project – Tom Miller", SABR.org, November 17, 2011.
  20. ↑ Kubatko, Roch (January 31, 2016). "Orioles minor leaguer Ramon Ramirez killed in motorcycle accident (with statement)". MASN Sports. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  21. ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25462241/astros-prospect-jose-rosario-age-20-dies-in-motorcycle-accident
  22. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (May 27, 1996). "Sharperson, Former Dodger, Dies in Crash". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Alan Storke Dies Suddenly". The New York Times. March 19, 1910. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  24. ↑ Brown, David (July 20, 2015). "Life Without Oscar". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ Batesel, Paul. Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871–1875, McFarland, 2012, p. 131. ISBN 0786490764
  26. ↑ "Wilson of Astros Is Found Dead". The New York Times. January 6, 1975. Retrieved October 20, 2010.

Sources

Further reading

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