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, acts of violence, 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. 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

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 affiliate team. Minor league players who never appeared in a major league game are listed in italics.

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Adenhart, NickNick Adenhart 22 Pitcher Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim car accident 2009 [2]
Agganis, HarryHarry Agganis 26 First baseman Boston Red Sox pulmonary embolism 1955 [2]
Barrios, FranciscoFrancisco Barrios 28 Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers accidental drug overdose 1982
Bechler, SteveSteve Bechler 23 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles complications from use of ephedra 2003 [3]
Bentley, CyCy Bentley 22 Pitcher Middletown Mansfields tuberculosis 1873 [4]
Bergen, MartyMarty Bergen 28 Catcher Boston Beaneaters suicide 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, gunshot 1978 [5]
Carlson, HalHal Carlson 38 Pitcher Chicago Cubs stomach hemorrhage 1930
Cassidy, JoeJoe Cassidy 23 Shortstop Washington Senators purpura hemorrhagia 1905
Chapman, RayRay Chapman 29 Shortstop Cleveland Indians hit by a pitch in a game 1920 [2]
Chappell, LarryLarry Chappell 27 Outfielder Boston Braves influenza 1918
Chávez, NéstorNéstor Chávez 21 Pitcher San Francisco Giants plane crash 1969
Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clementedagger 38 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates plane crash 1972 [2]
Cole, BrianBrian Cole 22 Outfielder New York Mets car accident 2001 [6]
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 (with Steve Olin) 1993 [2]
Cross, AmosAmos Cross 28 Catcher Louisville Colonels tuberculosis 1888 [7]
Dahl, JayJay Dahl 19 Pitcher Houston Colt .45s car accident 1965
Darr, MikeMike Darr 25 Outfielder San Diego Padres car accident 2002 [2]
Daubert, JakeJake Daubert 40 First baseman Cincinnati Reds appendicitis 1924
Delahanty, EdEd Delahantydagger 35 Outfielder Washington Senators drowned, swept over Niagara Falls 1903 [2]
Dillhoefer, PicklesPickles Dillhoefer 28 Catcher St. Louis Cardinals typhoid fever 1922
Dodge, JohnJohn Dodge 27 Third baseman Cincinnati Reds hit by a pitch in a game (minor league) 1916
Dolan, CozyCozy Dolan 34 Outfielder Boston Braves typhoid fever 1907
Doyle, JimJim Doyle 30 Third baseman Chicago Cubs appendicitis 1912
Edmead, AlfredoAlfredo Edmead 17 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates on-field collision with teammate 1974 [8][9]
Edmondson, PaulPaul Edmondson 27 Pitcher Chicago White Sox car accident 1970
Ferguson, CharlieCharlie Ferguson 25 Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies typhoid fever 1888
Fernández, JoséJosé Fernández 24 Pitcher Miami Marlins boat accident 2016 [10][11]
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 [2]
Fuentes, MiguelMiguel Fuentes 23 Pitcher Seattle Pilots homicide, gunshot 1970
Gastall, TomTom Gastall 24 Catcher Baltimore Orioles plane crash 1956
Gedeon, ElmerElmer Gedeon 27 Outfielder Washington Senators killed during World War II serving in United States Army Air Forces 1944
Goodwin, MarvMarv Goodwin 34 Pitcher Cincinnati Reds plane crash 1925
Grant, EddieEddie Grant 35 Second baseman New York Giants killed during World War I serving in United States Army 1918
Hall, MarcMarc Hall 27 Pitcher Detroit Tigers diabetes 1915
Halman, GregGreg Halman 24 Outfielder Seattle Mariners homicide, stabbing 2011 [2][12]
Hancock, JoshJosh Hancock 29 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals car accident 2007
Hanson, TommyTommy Hanson 29 Pitcher San Francisco Giants catastrophic organ failure 2015 [13]
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 [14]
Hubbs, KenKen Hubbs 22 Second baseman Chicago Cubs plane crash 1964 [2]
Joss, AddieAddie Jossdagger 31 Pitcher Cleveland Indians meningitis 1911 [2]
Kennedy, JoeJoe Kennedy 28 Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays hypertensive heart disease 2007 [2]
Kile, DarrylDarryl Kile 33 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals heart attack 2002 [2]
Koenecke, LenLen Koenecke 31 Outfielder Brooklyn Dodgers cerebral hemorrhage sustained during a fight on an airplane 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 [2]
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 in a carriage accident 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 1903
Miley, MikeMike Miley 23 Shortstop California Angels car accident 1977 [2]
Miller, TomTom Miller 26 Catcher St. Louis Brown Stockings indeterminate illness 1876 [15]
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 [2]
Morris, EdEd Morris 32 Pitcher Boston Red Sox homicide, stabbing 1932 [2]
Munson, ThurmanThurman Munson 32 Catcher New York Yankees plane crash 1979 [2]
O'Brien, TomTom O'Brien 27 Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates pneumonia 1901
O'Neill, HarryHarry O'Neill 27 Catcher Philadelphia Athletics killed during World War II serving in United States Marine Corps 1945
Olin, SteveSteve Olin 27 Pitcher Cleveland Indians boat accident (with Tim Crews) 1993 [2]
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 surgery complications following an in-game injury 1909
Ritz, JimJim Ritz 22 Third baseman Pittsburgh Pirates typhoid fever 1896
Robinson, KennyKenny Robinson 29 Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays car accident 1999
Rogers, JimJim Rogers 27 First baseman Louisville Colonels unknown 1900
Ruiz, ChicoChico Ruiz 33 Infielder California Angels car accident 1972 [2]
Sanchez, VictorVictor Sanchez 20 Pitcher Seattle Mariners boat accident 2015 [2]
Sebring, JimmyJimmy Sebring 27 Outfielder Washington Senators Bright's disease 1909
Sharman, RalphRalph Sharman 23 Outfielder Philadelphia Athletics drowned while swimming 1918
Sharperson, MikeMike Sharperson 34 Infielder San Diego Padres car accident 1996 [16]
Sowders, LenLen Sowders 27 Outfielder Baltimore Orioles typhoid malaria 1888
Stahl, ChickChick Stahl 34 Outfielder Boston Red Sox suicide 1907
Stenson, DernellDernell Stenson 25 Outfielder Cincinnati Reds homicide, gunshot 2003 [2]
Storke, AlanAlan Storke 25 Infielder Cincinnati Reds general streptococcus due to empyema 1910 [17]
Sutcliffe, SySy Sutcliffe 30 Catcher Baltimore Orioles Bright's disease 1893 [18]
Taveras, OscarOscar Taveras 22 Outfielder St. Louis Cardinals car accident 2014 [19]
Taylor, JackJack Taylor 26 Pitcher Cincinnati Reds nephritis 1900
Thake, AlAl Thake 22 Outfielder Brooklyn Atlantics drowned while fishing 1872
Thompson, DannyDanny Thompson 29 Shortstop Texas Rangers leukemia 1976
Umbricht, JimJim Umbricht 33 Pitcher Houston Colt .45s malignant melanoma 1964
Wantz, DickDick Wantz 25 Pitcher California Angels inoperable brain tumor 1965
White, ElmerElmer White 22 Outfielder Cleveland Forest Citys tuberculosis 1872 [20]
Wilson, DonDon Wilson 29 Pitcher Houston Astros carbon monoxide poisoning 1975 [2][21]
Young, CliffCliff Young 29 Pitcher Cleveland Indians car accident 1993
Youngs, RossRoss Youngsdagger 30 Outfielder New York Giants Bright's disease 1927

Former players of Major League Baseball still active in professional baseball at the time of their death.

Player Age Position Last MLB Season Last MLB Team Last Team Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Cedeño, AndújarAndújar Cedeño 31 Shortstop 1996 Houston Astros Azucareros del Este car accident 2000
del Toro, MiguelMiguel del Toro 29 Pitcher 2000 San Francisco Giants Seibu Lions car accident 2001
DeSa, JoeJoe DeSa 27 First baseman 1985 Chicago White Sox Ponce Lions car accident 1986
Encarnación, MarioMario Encarnación 30 Outfielder 2002 Chicago Cubs Macoto Cobras congenital disorder 2005
García, RosmanRosman García 32 Pitcher 2004 Texas Rangers Tigres de Aragua car accident 2011
González, GeremiGeremi González 33 Pitcher 2006 Milwaukee Brewers Yomiuri Giants lightning strike 2008 [22]
LeRoy, JohnJohn LeRoy 26 Pitcher 1997 Atlanta Braves Sioux City Explorers heart attack and brain aneurysm 2001
Lima, JoséJosé Lima 37 Pitcher 2006 New York Mets Aguilas Cibaenas heart attack 2010
Oliva, JoséJosé Oliva 26 Third baseman 1995 St. Louis Cardinals Brother Elephants car accident 1997

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

College baseball

Player Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Everett, DonnyDonny Everett 19 Pitcher Vanderbilt drowned 2016

See also

References

  1. ↑ Saint Onge, Rogers & Krueger 2008.
  2. 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.
  3. ↑ Murphy, Jarrett (February 17, 2003). "Ephedra Tied To Pitcher's Death". CBS News. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ 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
  5. ↑ Pearlman, Jeff. "Fifth and Jackson". espn.go.com. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ "The Best Player You Never Saw". Sports Illustrated. April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Gammons: Take heed the Edmead incident". MLB.com. August 8, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Scorecard: A Sad Loss". Sports Illustrated. September 2, 1974. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  10. ↑ http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17632541/miami-marlins-ace-jose-fernandez-dies-boating-accident
  11. ↑ http://sports.yahoo.com/news/marlins-star-jose-fernandez-dies-in-boating-accident-131251128.html
  12. ↑ (Dutch) Honkballer Halman omgekomen bij steekpartij
  13. ↑ Bowman, Mark (November 11, 2015). "Former Braves, Angels pitcher Hanson dies at 29". MLB.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  14. ↑ Russo, Frank. The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014, p. 91. ISBN 144223640X
  15. ↑ Hershberger, Richard. "SABR Baseball Biography Project – Tom Miller", SABR.org, November 17, 2011.
  16. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (May 27, 1996). "Sharperson, Former Dodger, Dies in Crash". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Alan Storke Dies Suddenly". The New York Times. March 19, 1910. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Sy Sutcliffe". SABR.org. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ Brown, David (July 20, 2015). "Life Without Oscar". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ Batesel, Paul. Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871–1875, McFarland, 2012, p. 131. ISBN 0786490764
  21. ↑ "Wilson of Astros Is Found Dead". The New York Times. January 6, 1975. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Former MLB pitcher Gonzalez killed by lightning strike". ESPN.com. May 26, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2015.

Sources

Further reading

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