No one chooses their time to die unless they take their own lives. And it can strike at any time from any direction. There have over the history of the game been many instances when players have passed away during the season, or in the off-season. 4 of those players were Hall of Fame members. The most prominent is Roberto Clemente, killed when his mercy flight to Haiti crashed into the Atlantic moments after take off. Ed Delahanty, an outfielder who played with teams in the 1890s and early 1900s, lost his life when he was swept over Niagra Falls in 1903. He was 35. Addie Joss, a pitcher with the Indians, died at age 31 of meningitis in 1911. Joss is a rarity since he did not play 10 seasons in the majors which was a requirement for election. The oldtimers committee elected him in 1978. Ross Youngs was an outfielder for the New York Giants. He died at age 30 of Bright’s Disease.
The Dodgers have lost a few over the years. Hub Collins, who I profiled a little in the Bridegrooms post, died in 1892 at 28 from typhoid fever. Charlie Hodes, an outfielder/catcher with the 1875 Brooklyn Atlantic’s, died of tuberculosis at 27. Len Koenecke (31), an outfielder with the 35 Dodger team, died of a cerebral hemorrhage sustained on a plane. He was hit in the head by a pilot and passenger of a plane which he had seized control of. Strange way to go. Doc McJames (27), the Superbas pitcher in 1901, died of tuberculosis. Al Thake, a 22-year-old pitcher for the Atlantic’s, drowned while fishing. Bill Seinsoth (22), a minor league first baseman for the Bakersfield Dodgers was killed in a car accident in 1969
But prominent or not, some players just never get the chance to advance their careers because of some disease, accident, or something worse. Lyman Bostock, a very talented outfielder with the Twins, had just signed a free-agent deal with the Angels after the 1977 season. On September 23, 1978, hours after playing against the White Sox, he was shot and killed while riding as a passenger in a friend’s car in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. His shooter was sentenced to a psychiatric hospital and released after seven months. Indiana legislators introduced the guilty, but mentally ill plea so that mentally ill patients would serve prison time after being released from inpatient mental health treatment.
I remember a couple of pretty good infielders just starting their careers who were lost to accidents. Ken Hubbs, a 22 yr. old Cubs infielder, who won the NL ROY in 1962, died in a plane crash in 1964. Mike Miley was an Angel SS and one of their best prospects. I remember seeing him play at El Paso in 1974. Miley had been a quarterback at LSU and his exploits had earned him the nickname Miracle Mike. In January of 1977, he was killed in a one-car crash in Louisiana. The Angels have been especially hard hit by events like this. Nick Adenhart, killed in an auto accident at 22. Bostock, Miley, Tyler Skaggs at 25 of a drug overdose, Dick Wantz, a pitcher at 25 of an inoperable brain tumor. Tommy Hanson, cocaine overdose, Chico Ruiz, a car accident at 33, and Luis Valbuena, killed in a car crash that was really a murder. Jose Castillo, an Astro infielder was also murdered in the same crash.
Other prominent players passing, Harry Agganis (26), Red Sox, Pulmonary embolism, Francisco Barrios, 28, Brewers, heart attack, Steve Belcher, 23, Orioles, complications from the use of ephedra, Walt Bond, 29, Twins, leukemia, Ray Chapman, 29, Indians, died after being hit in the head with a pitch, the only MLB player to do so. Pitchers Tim Crews and Steve Olin died in a boat crash during spring training in 1993. The same crash seriously injured former Dodger Bobby Ojeda. 40-year-old Brooklyn star, Jake Daubert died of appendicitis. Pickles Dillhoefer, 28, Phillies, Typhoid fever. Jose Fernandez, 24, Marlins, boat accident, Danny Frisella, 30, Brewers, dune buggy accident, Willard Hershberger, 30, Reds, suicide, Joe Kennedy, 28, Blue Jays, hypertensive heart disease, Darryl Kile,28, heart attack, Bob Moose, 29, Pirates, car accident, Mike Sharperson, 34, Padres, car accident, Oscar Taveras, 22, Cardinals, car accident, Jim Umbricht, 33, Houston Colts, malignant melanoma, Don Wilson, 29, Astros, carbon monoxide poisoning.
Plane crashes have taken their toll too. Still some mystery about why Corey Lidle was flying that low in New York City just prior to crashing into a building. Thruman Munson crashed his brand new jet. Roy Halladay was doing some pretty crazy flying just prior to crashing into the ocean in his new seaplane. Probably the two strangest deaths for me were a truck falling on Mark Fidrich while he was working on it in his barn, and former catcher, Bo Diaz, who was crushed by a falling satellite dish. Huh?
It just goes to show that anytime, anywhere, you can have an incident that will end your life. I came close a couple of times. I was electrocuted by my radar when I was in the Army, and of course, I just missed having a couple of really bad accidents driving. But I am still here.
Discussion (14)
Disagree, not disagreeable
One question: Wasn’t Clemente taking aid to Nicaragua instead of Haiti when he was killed?
No reason – just thought it was an appropriate way to deal with a moron:
Predictions:
1. Kenley will return – he wants to be a lifetime Dodger (2-year deal);
2. I have been telling you for months that Clayton will retire;
3. Muncy will be ready for Spring Training (it’s not his throwing arm);
4. Joe Kelly will re-sign; and
5. The Dodgers will do something very unexpected.
I have an idea for AF. Don’t sign Jansen, bring Kersh back as the closer….
Since Sharperson’s death I have thought of him every time I have passed the 15/215 interchange, which is actually very close to the spot on Route 66 where Sammy Davis Jr lost his eye in a car accident.
Every time I mentioned trading for Chapman, Buxton or signing Correa Old Bear and others would respond with “why”, when it’s pitching that is the weak link. It’s not like they were wrong, it was more about them being what Roy Campanella would say to Don Newcomb, they were loud wrong if we are interpreting what Friedman just said.
Don’t believe the hype. California still runs the world. $$$$$$$$$$$
Gonna be very disappointed if Mookie needs surgery during the upcoming season.
https://am570lasports.iheart.com/content/2021-10-28-andrew-friedman-talks-about-a-possible-dave-roberts-extension/
Short and sweet AF interview from the Petros and Money show. They mentioned bringing back Jansen and Kershaw and the hosts said something to the effect that you can’t have a bunch of old guys on the roster and points to the Lakers as an example. Friedman alluded to the notion that it’s nostalgic for your iconic players to play their whole career with one team, but it’s essentially up to them citing family and other issues going into the decision. I’m seeing some foreshadowing here.
He also alluded to the thought that there was some “Heavy Lifting” still to do on the position player side of things. I thought it was interesting that he pointed to position players with this language and topic since most think that the rotation needs the most attention. Again, possibly some foreshadowing.
No mention of the 1000 pound gorilla in the room. It’s almost like there’s a predetermined agreement not to mention Trevor. The last time they interviewed Friedman, one of the hosts mentioned Bauer almost under his breath at the end of the interview with no follow up.
For the last week or so, every post I make gets stuck in awaiting moderation. I guess the website’s AI is learning. 😉
What a somber tone today. It seems that the Angels have had more than their fair share with Bostock, Adenhart and most recently, Skaggs.
I never realized Sharperson died. I remember on a pretty mediocre Dodgers team, he was the only player selected to the All Star Team.
Just finished watching Ken Burns Baseball again last night. I think every baseball fan should watch and re-watch it every few years or so. There were some quick cuts of Sharperson in a Dodger uni.
I had to read a little more on Len Koenecke. Crazy story. The pilot left the controls unattended while he was whacking Koenecke over the head with a fire extinguisher and got lost. Had to land the plane on a horse race track.
One of the keys to the 88 Dodgers success was the depth of their pitching, particularly relief. Crews was a big part of that.
Thurman Munson was a monumental loss for the Yankees and baseball. It was a shock I remember to this day.
All too soon.
I expect the ones I was most impacted by were Nick Aderhart who was killed when the vehicle in which he was a passneger was struck by a drunk driver and former Blue Jay Roy Halladay.