The Tales of 25 Major Leaguers Who Died During Their Careers (At Bat Ep. 24)

[@matthicksxx]

The first video in a series celebrating the lives & legacies of Major Leaguers with unfinished careers The upmost respect was regarded to all players mentioned in this video Mistakes: 20:04 Don Wilson’s first no-hitter was on June 18th, 1967, not July 18th 20:48 Wilson was actually the 15th player in the modern era to throw two no-hitters, not the 16th

[@jamesespey249]

There is a legendary player from the 19th Century you didn't mention...Ed Delahanty.

[@eddiez1247]

@@jamesespey249 True, and he has a interesting story too, but so it goes. Great video regardless. I am not hating on your constructive criticism.

[@woodyboyd2961]

Lou Gehrig anyone?

[@markbeavers5747]

I grew up next to San Fernando Valley State College and played pickup basketball with Lyman Bostock as a kid. He was so nice and protected me when we played on the same 3 on 3 Team because I was so small and young. I was heart broken when I heard he passed and still think about how great he was going to be.

[@matthicksxx]

That’s really touching. Thank you for sharing

[@BuccaneerBruce]

Clemente died when I was 10 months old, he was the reason I wore the number 21 in high school and college. This was very well done. Also the Royals losing Ventura was extremely painful to us Royals fans.

[@big8dog887]

One very major omission: Ed Delahanty. Possibly the greatest hitter of his era, hit .400 three times. Fell off a bridge by Niagara Falls after being kicked off a train for drunk and disorderly behavior. Was on that train trying to jump his Washington contract to play for the New York Giants.

[@jrlexjr]

As a podcaster who specializes in telling mini-biographies of people buried in two local historic cemeteries, I understand and appreciate the amount of time it took for you to put this beautiful program together. I was especially touched by the story of Ken Hubbs, who was one of my favorite Cubs as I was growing up. If you decide to do a follow-up, remember Harry "The Golden Greek" Agganis (1929-1955) and, of course, the great Ed Delahanty. Thanks for a terrific educational and entertaining program.

[@matthicksxx]

Thank you for your kind words. I do plan to continue this series

[@davidrocholl4071]

Yes please continue this series!! Maybe you can a do a video, on Lou Gehrig, while not passing during his career, he was forced to retire from his disease!!

[@ROB-xm5fv]

YES. Ed Delahanty was a very tragic story. One of the greatest but his demons got him.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@ROB-xm5fv, do you remember EDDIE WAITKUS, or BILLY JURGES? They were both shot. WAITKUS died and was revived three times on the operating table. He lived. The two incidents may have been the ones that BERNARD MALAMUD based fictional phenom ROY HOBBS shooting on in the novel and eventual movie THE NATURAL. WAITKUS nickname wassss.. The Natural..

[@10soft2]

Another sad story which was very preventable was Cubs infielder Steve Macko who passed in 1981. He had a fear of doctors and had a growth on his private parts. Everyone thought it was strange as he would not shower with his teammates. It was only after he was unintentionally spiked by Bill Madlock on a play at second base and was injured that he had to see a doctor. While examining his thigh the doctors obviously noticed the mass on his testicles. Unfortunately it was too late RIP Steve.

[@hrebec97]

His father was the trainer for the Texas Rangers. Steve was very well thought of in the state of Texas. Class act!

[@BennyWills]

Great video. Here are a few more: Mike Sharperson, Cliff Young, Steve Bechler, Dernell Stenson, Mike Darr and Daniel Webb

[@Steve25901]

Steve Macko

[@Dac54]

Another forgotten player is Urban Shocker, a right-hander who had a career record of 187-117, with an ERA of 3.17. He won 20 or more games for the St. Louis Browns for four different seasons and won 18 games for the fabled 1927 Yankees. Sadly, he pitched for an unknown number of years while battling a heart condition, which took his life in September 1928, two weeks shy of age 38.

[@rickyuhnke7979]

I still cry over Adenhart. So sad, such a shame. He could have been....

[@gabepollock1641]

I remember watching the game the night before with my family, a few months shy of my 9th birthday, and then going to bed. I was woken up the next morning by my dad, which told me something was seriously wrong. I’ll never forget how hollow that morning felt, even though I didn’t fully grasp the situation.

[@79SteelyMatt]

Very sad I remember that day vividly life is short make sure you live everyday and love the people around you

[@lindyfrank5342]

​@@gabepollock1641😅

[@mmclaurin8035]

Thurman Munson should be in the Hall of Fame. Period.

[@nickolaszegarelli6037]

So true and so overdue.

[@healthyone100]

I Agree, i was a yankee fan in the late 1950'S Mickey mantle was a big hero of mine but in 1962 i became and instant Met fan i don't why, Thuman Munson was a big hero of mine even though i was a Met fan, he was a great clutch hitter with men on base, i cried when he died in 1979 i remember where i was when i heard the news RIP!

[@merccadoosis8847]

Yes, he should be in HOF. While he only played 10 years, his career stats match those of other catchers who were so honored. Not only were his stats great, he leadership capability was unmatched. So sad that he has been overlooked in this regard.

[@felixgonzalez5882]

I agree and so does Don Mattingly. I'm a mets fan so throw in Keith Henandez too ! 😀

[@danielcorreard3746]

roberto clemente was not only a great baseball player but a great man he build hospitals to help the poor he did so much to help people it's sad that he died but it's like they alwasy say the good die young.

[@jackstevens585]

His number should also be retired league wide for his humanitarian work

[@danielcorreard3746]

@@jackstevens585 i agree but sadly mlb doesn't seem to want to do that sad he gave his life helping others no offense to jackie robinson but he didn't do that

[@旭球]

@@danielcorreard3746 do you know if anyone has tried to get MLB to retire Clemente's number? Maybe they would if it was brought up

[@robertsprouse9282]

Unfortunately, they, weight-wise overloaded the plane with supplies for the victims, and it lost altitude over water.

[@rosseganjr9402]

you all will be remembered and missed! thankfully we have your baseball cards to cherish!

[@annamariaisland1960]

There's no way to quantify this, but for me Clemente is the most beautiful player. He played the game like a ballet dancer.

[@eddiez1247]

What a great video. Glad I saw this shared on r/baseball today. Best wishes to you growing the channel.

[@JDAbelRN]

Well done video, i hadn't realized so many great players lost their live prematurely. I is great you are educateding the young public about their careers.

[@sequoias]

Another player who died during his MLB career was Charlie Ferguson. He was the first great player in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies. He was both a pitcher and an everyday player. He played from 1884-1887. As a pitcher his career record was 99-64 with an ERA of 2.67. He also had a lifetime BA of .288. When he was not pitching, he played the outfield and second base. In his last season of 1887 he hit .337 with 85 RBI in only 72 games and also had a record of 22-10 with an ERA of 3.00 as a pitcher. Before the 1888 season started he contracted typhoid fever and died in Philadelphia at the age of 25.

[@Pensfan5919]

I met Jose in 2015 just after his return from Tommy John. You could just tell he loved the game and seemingly nothing else. He didn't look at it as a job, he looked at it as fun every time he went to Marlins Park. Still have a bobblehead that was given out about 3 months before his passing. RIP Jose

[@marshallarnold-ep7nn]

I remember when they showed me a picture of Jose dead. There was nothing. Slight bruising. No blood. No holes. No trama. It looked like a person sleeping. To this day, something about his death does not add up.

[@mikeisagodd2121]

That some good coke

[@IlGreven]

I will never not believe that Bartolo Colon grooved that home run pitch to DSG. It was his only homer of the season. If it was grooved, it was a classy move.

[@Rusty3659]

There was also Mike Miley an up and coming shortstop for the Angels and Danny Frisella who pitched for the Mets, Braves and Brewers who were both killed in car wrecks.

[@madbrowniac7871]

Mike Miley continues the unnerving trend of existent and potential LSU Sports Heroes who passed away all too soon. Pete Maravich. Gaynell Tinsley. Don Redden. Eric Andolsek. Ricky Blanton. Carl Otis Trimble. Hokie Gajan. Head Coach Bo Rein.😔B.W.

[@docadams7099]

I remember several MLB players who died during their careers. Chico Ruiz was a Red from 1964-69 and played for a West Coast team until he died in a car wreck in early 1972. Thurman Munson was a great NY Yankees catcher in the 1970s; His Yankees were in the World Series from 1976 to 1978, winning the latter two. He was an amateur pilot who liked flying on off-days. He died as a result of a crash of his plane. Roberto Clemente notched his 3,000th hit at the end of the 1972 season. Clemente played the last time in the NL Championship against the Reds. He gave chase on Johnny Bench's game-tying home run. The game, and the series, ended with the Reds winning on a wild pitch by Bob Moose. Moose himself died about 4 years later in a car wreck.

[@allknowerofwwetna1]

Jeez. This was heavy but I appreciate you making it. I remember when Lidle's plane crashed... watching it as a young kid, it was hard to believe. Life is short. Enjoy it.

[@RWildekrav66]

Let’s not forget the Cubs Kenny Hubbs ,played 2nd base .

[@dodgerred6462]

He was included in the video

[@dantheman5745]

Very surprised that you did not mention that after Ray Chapman died in August 1920, the Indians went on to win the World Series that year.

[@zach7193]

Forgot about Josh Hancock, Luis Valbuena, Andy Marte, and Tommy Hanson.

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

These are for players who died while actively playing MLB. Marte last played in the Majors in 2014 and died in 2017

[@JZillah_]

@@r3tr0actiongamer24 Josh Hancock was still in the majors before he died though.

[@Dac54]

Going back to 1922, the St.Louis Cardinals had a budding superstar outfielder, Austin McHenry tragically pass away at age 27 of a brain tumor. In 1921, he had his best season, batting .350 with 201 hits and 102 rbi. Another player who is seldom remembered is Walt Bond, who bravely battled leukemia for a good part of his career and adult life. He had his best season in 1964 for the then Houston Colt .45s, hitting 20 homeruns and driving in 85 runs. Sadly, he passed away from leukemia during the 1967 season at age 29.

[@btnhstillfire]

The amount of players turned pilot only to die in a plane crash is crazy.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

Between December 1976 and January 1977 MLB lost three active players. Danny Frisella died in a dune buggy accident at age 30 on 1/1/1977 having pitched his last game on 9/23/1976 for the Milwaukee Brewers. On 1/6/1977 Angels' shortstop Mike Miley perished in a car crash at age 23. He played his last contest on 10/3/1976. Two months after his last game, Danny Thompson, Rangers' shortstop, succumbed to Leukemia at age 29 on 12/10/1976.

[@hrebec97]

Glad you mentioned Danny Thompson. When the Rangers acquired him in the Bert Blyleven trade, he proceeded to get the walk off hit in the first game he played at Arlington Stadium. People said jokingly, “So who’s the other guy we got in the Thompson trade?” He was great to fans and would generously sign autographs for kids. I was one of them. His passing in December that year was very hard for his fans. I always hoped and prayed his family was ok. He was from Oklahoma, so he was close to home as a Ranger.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

@@hrebec97 He had already being diagnosed when he came to Puerto Rico to play winter ball for the Indios de Mayagüez and he quickly became a fan favorite, what a talented and courageous player, we were rooting for him to beat the disease, his death was front page news in our local papers.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

@@hrebec97 Mike Miley played for my favorite team, the Cangrejeros (Crabbers) of Santurce, I couldn't believe it when I heard about his tragic accident, shortly after playing in our league, I remember him having fun on the field, always smiling.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

@@hrebec97 Steve Macko was playing for the Arecibo Wolves and the team was giving him an unconditional release when he went to the team's general manager to tell him he had cancer and that he wanted to keep on playing because it could be his last chance to play for a winning team. After that he was kept in the roster, his playing improved and although the Wolves did not win the local championship he played until the end of the season. Macko died some months later.

[@hrebec97]

@@luishumbertovega3900 that’s a very nice story! Spoke of the kind of guy Macko was

[@joshjohnson55]

Steve Olin's death still makes me ugly cry to this day. I can still recall, being all of 12 years old, seeing the news pop up on SportsCenter. Crying so loudly my parents woke, asking what was the matter. Olin was and always will be my favorite player of all time 💔

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

You deserve more subscribers than me. Your content is top tier.

[@redred222]

clemente is one of the 25 greatest mlb players of all time

[@ooflord702]

I would like to add one. I went to school with Mike Darr and his brother Ryan. Mike was drafted by the Tigers my freshman year and played for the Padres from 1999-2001 he was killed in a car accident during spring training in 2002.

[@wyotealberto2242]

How do you only have 305 subscribers??? I’m gonna advertise you like crazy

[@thatkristiandude4048]

Is it just me or are the Angels cursed? There have been 5 players to have the Angeks as their last team before they died. Lyman Bostock, Nick Adenhart, Tommy Hanson, Luis Valbuena, Tyler Skaggs. As if being an Angels fan wasn't hard enough already

[@cathleencooks748]

There is also Chico Ruiz who died in a car accident in 1972. My 2 younger brothers & myself often attended the Angels spring training games in Palm Springs when they trained there as my family lived in Desert Hot Springs. Chico was one of our favorite Angels players & it does seem like they do have a curse

[@jonstefanik9400]

Even Mel Clark in the movie Angels in the Outfield. When Al informed Roger that he has terminal lung cancer and doesn't know it yet. Apparently no team physicals we're given.

[@paulst.pierre5109]

Don't forget SS Mike Miley in the mid 70s.

[@calvinbealer7264]

Lyman Bostock is Another Baseball player that lost his life back in the Fall of 1978 .

[@101southsideboy]

the KZbin channel called THE FLIGHT CHANNLE made a video of how Lidle he died they also made a video on another baseball player ( not mentioned in this video ) who also died in a plane crash by the name of Roy Halladay

[@IlGreven]

I also like how you lined up some of the players' uniform numbers with the countdown numbers...

[@somerandomguy5977]

Jose Fernandez was drunk too, high on coke, and was the driver. His death isn't as sad as people make it out to be considering he killed two others, not just himself. Sick and tired of seeing only positive things about a guy who killed people.

[@LetsgoYankees-ot7nr]

Your not wrong

[@alvinwagner6085]

Totally agree. Roy Halliday’s story would be different if he’d have crashed his plane into a school or shopping mall. He had no business flying and endangered anyone around where he was flying.

[@CharmCityGamer]

It's still tragic, its not like he wanted to die. Jerk.

[@JahWontPayTheBill]

Neither did the two people he murdered.

[@CharmCityGamer]

@@JahWontPayTheBill It's not a murder. It's an accidental death. Learn.

[@mystermysterio5348]

Enjoyed the Video...Big Ups 👍 ... R.I.P. To all the players who died.... 🕯️..... 🕊️

[@certain352]

Alternate video title: Don’t fly a plane Don’t drive a boat Don’t be on the angels (as a pitcher) Don’t do drugz

[@jonstefanik9400]

Don't drive drunk

[@herbwhite7384]

Well done video and each death is uniquely sad.

[@HappyGizzard]

Thurman Munson passed away on my 18th birthday. I turned on the Brewers radio broadcast as I waited to go out to dinner with family. The first words I heard were from Bob Uecker, requesting a moment of silence for Thurman Munson. I couldn't believe what I heard, I was just shocked and saddened.

[@mam362]

Seems like the more recent deaths were about players acting irresponsibly and using substances

[@danacoleman4007]

What a wonderful legacy Mr. Roberto Clemente left behind. Very sad for all of us to have lost him that way.

[@DS-qg9ck]

There was a pitcher not mentioned..Carl Morton

[@felixgonzalez5882]

My eyes got a little watery watching this video. RIP players. PLAYBALL ! 😞🇵🇷🙏🏽

[@alvinwagner6085]

Narration should really say” Fernandez killed two friends who were on his boat”

[@billycausgrove9657]

He should not have been mentioned for that reason

[@robertmather7334]

Great video!

[@jamescook6564]

There is a podcast here on KZbin about Lymon Wesley Bostock that is very interesting.

[@c2itccase9]

I remember Jim Umbricht of the Astros…having his baseball card knowing he’d died always spooked me.

[@tommitchell9197]

A major omission was Harry Agannis a 2 sport star at Boston University...he died of a pulmonary embolism during his 2nd year...

[@dodgerred6462]

Which team he played for?

[@evelynmuise6301]

Played for the Boston Red Sox

[@jonstefanik9400]

Early 60's I think?

[@evelynmuise6301]

@@jonstefanik9400 died June 27, 1955 age 26

[@jonstefanik9400]

@@evelynmuise6301 thanks

[@CharmCityGamer]

I don't know what hurt me more, Nick Adenhart or Jose Fernandez... Thanks Matt.

[@billycausgrove9657]

Nick Adenhart. Jose Fernandez gets no sympathy for killing his friends by his dumb actions

[@Nestor123057]

Lou Gehrig died from the illness which cut short his career. He was only 38 at the time of his death and would most likely have continue playing well after that, (Ruth played until he was 42).

[@Dulcimerist]

Same with Kirby Puckett.

[@robertmurdock1848]

Ruth was 40 his final year in 1935, played sparingly, and didn't finish the season.

[@somerandomguy5977]

Why mention that Oscar Taveras was drunk right after not mentioning that Yordano Ventura was drunk too. Fact is they both died speeding, in the rain, while drunk. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[@elcidcampeador9629]

Great show

[@carolharris1236]

What a fascinating, heartbreaking documentary. Many of these players I saw on television, such as Thurman Munson, Lymon Bostock, Darryl Kile, Oscar Taveras. I get sad when I think about them. Adenhart’s death was so pitiful because he was killed by that idiotic drunken driver. The St. Louis Cardinals also lost another young pitcher in 2007, when Josh Hancock died in a car accident at the age of 29. Unfortunately, he was the one driving while intoxicated.

[@jonstefanik9400]

I remember ready to watch the FOX game of the week between the Cardinals and Cubs when a tearful Joe Girardi came to announce to fans that the game would be postponed due to a tragedy but said it is would be revealed later.what happened.

[@zonarod4506]

It’s scary how many were pitchers

[@davidkent8345]

I got to watch Steve Olin pitch in the minor leagues. He was a great pitcher

[@Julio21M]

I was watching that game Felt surreal to see the news

[@mikeyposs3132]

Angel pitcher Bruce Heinbechner was an Angel pitcher killed in a Spring Training car accident in Palm Springs, California.

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

10:10 Ventura died in a car crash so the music they play is Tracy Chapmans "fast car"? Very distasteful

[@10soft2]

Well actually that song's lyrics say "you live with the bottle that's the way it is" so digest that for a second it makes sense.

[@LiveFromThePorcelainPalace]

Good video.. but there is one you missed.. Marty Bergen. Catcher for the Boston Beaneaters from 1896-1899. Had severe mental problems. Long story short.. he killed his wife and 2 children with an axe and nearly decapitated himself with a razor in January 1900.

[@doomt3ch]

wow 0_0

[@lorimeyers3839]

Good video. Wish ya had Josh Hancock on here!

[@bobma6342]

44:16....who were the 7.3% who didn't vote for him?

[@robertmurdock1848]

Probably the same writers who didn't vote for Mays , Aaron , and a multitude of other greats. Simply because they believe no one should get in on the first ballot . It took 80+ years for a 100% vote, and it shouldn't have gone to a closer who played under the relaxed save rule.

[@humanbeing2420]

Baseball is a deadly game. Become a major leaguer at your peril...

[@jserran2]

Absolutely correct

[@Truckerdaddy]

Uncle Iroh was my favorite ATLA character

[@Mr.MikeBarksdale]

This is horrible, but I think I might have done Oxy with Nick Adenhart back around 2009. I was about a year from sobering up. The Angels were playing a game in Arizona, and I was in Arizona on business. I was in a bad place buying something that was not allowed and this big dorky looking stork of a guy came in and just peeled a wad of cash that was at least $10k, and then tried to hide it. It was weird to see a guy buy 200 80 MG green monsters all at once, let's just put it at that. Then, he dapped everyone up and left. I liked baseball but I had no idea who he was. The dealer said, oh, yeah, I have a lot of celebs and athletes, he's a pitcher. I cant swear to it, but I think it was him. He seemed like a cool guy. I dont mean to say I thought he was stupid looking. He was just much bigger than a bunch of drug addicts like me. He reminded me of the Winkelvoss Twins in Social Network, now that I think of it. But he had a big smile and a down vest, which was odd in Arizona in March. Im not trying to dishonor his legacy or hurt his family. But he was nice to all of us. I do think it was him, even though I will be careful and say, maybe. He had a girl with him when he came back who was gorgeous and she wanted black tar H. He gave her money, she bought and the girl i was with wanted a hit. So they talked over their hit, "Nate" who I thought he was, and I talked politics, and solved the world's problems. When he left he smiled and his kite tail left. We are human too, us addicts. I think it shows he was a good person, and it doesnt destroy his legacy.

[@JackChiefton]

Some things better left to yourself friend.

[@DanHolmes-o9b]

You acknowledged the two Dominican players killed in 2017 in separate auto accident s. You failed to acknowledge the passing of Andy Marte in the same year in another auto accident. Marte had some memorable moments when he played for the Cleveland Indians.

[@rafaelramirez1507]

Where is Mike Miley 😕

[@IlGreven]

I think you could make a case that Lou Gehrig "died during his career", because the disease that killed him was evident while he was playing...

[@aaronwilliams6989]

DEEP!

[@bobma6342]

He looked out at 16:36

[@richardtherichard26]

I’m no marlins fan but damn that dee Gordon homer get me every time 🥹

[@jonstefanik9400]

Where's Harry Agannis?

[@roleplayingpain4349]

lou konecke died because he got into a drunken flight with a pilot while trying to wrestle away the controls. That should be on here hahaha

[@BrutusMcCrunch]

RIP heroes

[@josephambrose2852]

Too many missing I'm out

[@fullhousefrek]

😢 I cried when Daryl Kyle died

[@tonywhite7083]

How is munson and hernadez not 2 and 3 otherwise good video

[@matthicksxx]

Hello, in this video, I was only counting down 25 different stories, not ranking them. While Roberto Clemente is the most well-known player to pass during his career, I only ended on his story because I thought it would be a profound one to finish with. If I were to remake this video, I would not have it outlined as if it were a ranking

[@trecchannel4205]

The word is INcurable

[@jamesmccormick875]

A lot of Pitchers on this list.

[@eddiemunster8634]

Mandatory prison time for first-time drunk driver offenders is the only way to change this

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Josh Gibson was a shame all the way around.

[@armandrodriguez8501]

Harry Agganis

[@cards1985]

RIP

[@kimkelly5512]

❤15

[@lightyearsfromhome1165]

Alcohol is poison.

[@mikegendron3723]

And the moral of this documentary, if you want to get into baseball, stay away from pitching! It's not good for your health!

[@cheebateam]

Lyman Bostock was murdered Sept 23 1978..not Sept 27th