Gone Too Soon

Posted By on December 16, 2021

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.

Addie Joss
Ross Youngs

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.

This article has 37 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. Thurman Munson was a monumental loss for the Yankees and baseball. It was a shock I remember to this day.

  3. 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.

        1. I can think of a few exceptions: Hitler, Stalin. Mussolini, Franco, Goring, Himmler, Hirohito, Togo, Yamashiita, and many many others both during. before and after their reign of death.

  4. What a somber tone today. It seems that the Angels have had more than their fair share with Bostock, Adenhart and most recently, Skaggs.

      2. Yeah, I did forget Moore. He was still distraught over the homer he gave up that cost the Angels their chance at going to the World Series,

    2. Had a rough month, lost a lot of friends, so it was on my mind and I wanted to see how many MLB players passed way before their time. I probably could have added Gehrig, who the season before ALS started sapping his strength had an excellent season slashing ,351/.473/.643. He was 34 that year. SO when he slumped to .295 the next year, that was a shock to everyone. Then the following season the effects of the disease sapped his strength and his skills.

  5. For the last week or so, every post I make gets stuck in awaiting moderation. I guess the website’s AI is learning. 😉

  6. 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.

    1. Maybe his comment about heavy lifting on the position player side means he’s counting on having Bauer as part of his rotation. One thing for sure, Andrew knows a lot more about the Bauer situation and how it’s likely to play out than we do.

      Also, his use of the term “heavy lifting” with regard to position players sure makes it seem like he’s looking to do something big. Freeman, Correa, Suzuki, Trea extension? Who knows?

      By the way, I read somewhere that GM’s are allowed to speak with one another during the lockout to put together trades which will then be finalized as soon as the new CBA goes into effect. Did anyone else see that or was I dreaming?

      1. On one hand, we have a lot of talent and appear to have the diamond covered. On the other hand, there is a surprising amount of uncertainty for a 100 win team.

        To wit:

        C–Covered 100% with Smith/Barnes. Goal of season is to identify 3rd option as this is Barnes’ last season under club control. Cartaya will continue to develop.
        1B–Muncy is injured, possibly severely. Bellinger can cover it, but that opens up CF.
        2B–Trea will likely move over to SS. Lux, Taylor, Betts all candidates.
        SS–Seager is gone.
        3B–Turner is older and in no way an everyday player.
        LF–Pollock could strain his hamstring leaning over to pick up the morning paper.
        CF–Bellinger might have to move to 1B, leaving Taylor & Lux
        RF–Betts is signed forever but is versatile enough to move to CF or 2B.

    1. According to Betts, his hip is fine and will not need surgery. I would quit worrying about his hip. Just like guys keep bringing up Pollock’s Hammy. He played 55 of the 60 games in 2020. He played 117 last year. And he was one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup. You keep him around 120 games, and he is going to be fine. Out in California now. Train was 3 hours late getting in due to high winds, and a downed power line on the tracks,

  9. 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.

    1. Buxton is an injury waiting to happen. Guy cannot stay on the field. If Correa signs with LA I will be totally shocked, and why trade for a guy who hits around 200 and strikes out 200 times? If they add offense, I have to believe it is more likely they add a bat like Freeman than any of those other guys. I do not care how exciting Buxton is, he is more injury prone than Seager or Pollock.

      1. Buxton has re-signed anyway.

        You could probably get Chapman for a 20-30 Prospect.

        The Dodgers would take Correa at the right prioce. I doubt that the Price is right.

  10. 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.

  12. 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.

        1. Mark know what it is and I won’t be surprised. We receive Suarez, Castillo, and Gray from Cincinnati for ……………to be continued.

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