# Athletes who died too young **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871 "2013-01-31T02:53:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/1 "2013-01-31T02:53:48Z")
Let’s get morbid for a bit. 🙂 I mentioned\*\* Addie Joss\*\* in another thread, a great MLB pitcher in the first decade of the 20th century, who died young. He made it into the Hall of Fame, but it took some bending of the rules; if he had played a few more seasons, he’d probably be added far earlier. I got to thinking about other athletes who died while still young enough to be able to play at a major league level. **Ed Delahanty** was 35 when he died, falling off a bridge and down Niagara Falls after he had been kicked off a train for being drunk. **Ernie Davis** was the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and number one draft pick in the NFL (the first black athlete to be either), but died of leukemia before playing a game. His number was retired by Cleveland. **Brian Piccolo.** (Of course.) **Bill Masterson.** ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/2 "2013-01-31T02:58:51Z")
Tim Crew and Steve Olin were Cleveland Indians pitchers who died in a horrible boating accident during spring training 1993. Roberto Clemente ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/3 "2013-01-31T03:24:15Z")
[Hank Gathers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Gathers) ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/4 "2013-01-31T03:29:42Z")
Len Bias ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/5 "2013-01-31T03:57:18Z")
Redskins safety [Sean Taylor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Taylor) was shot and killed in a home invasion when he was 24. Chiefs linebacker [Derrick Thomas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Thomas) was killed in a car accident at 33. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/6 "2013-01-31T04:10:25Z")
Drazen Petrovic ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/7 "2013-01-31T04:28:24Z")
[Bill Barilko](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Barilko) > [@](#): > > The last goal he scored (in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens’ Gerry McNeil in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final, on April 21, 1951) won the Maple Leafs the Stanley Cup. > [@](#): > > Four months later, on August 26, 1951, Barilko joined his dentist, Henry Hudson, on a flight aboard Hudson’s Fairchild 24 floatplane to Seal River, Quebec, for a weekend fishing trip.[6] On the return trip, the single-engine plane disappeared and its passengers remained missing.[6] Eleven years later, on June 6, 1962, helicopter pilot Ron Boyd discovered the wreckage of the plane[7] about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Cochrane, Ontario, > [@](#): > > Notably, the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup that year, after not winning it at all during the eleven years that he was missing. The story became a [hit song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j_o42wo-aU) in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/8 "2013-01-31T06:48:40Z")
[Ben Wilson, (March 18, 1967 – November 21, 1984)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Wilson_(basketball)), the 1983-1984 top high school basketball player in the country as a junior. ESPN Films did one of their [30 for 30](http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=benji) shows on him. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/9 "2013-01-31T09:04:02Z")
Kenny Hubbs Chicago Cubs second baseman and rookie of the year and Gold Glove winner as a rookie in 1962 died in a plane crash a year or two later. Thurman Munson Yankee catcher died in a plane crash. Joe Roth All-American quarterback at UC Berkley died 3 months after last college game from cancer. Wayne Estes All American basketball player at Utah State University was second in the nation in scoring behind Rick Barry in 1965. After scoring 48 points in his last college game he was out with friends and happened upon an auto accident. He was electrocuted when he walked into a downed power line. The way I heard it the line hit him in the forehead so had he been a playmaking guard he might have survived. Payne Stewart winner of 3 major championships on the PGA tour died in a plane crash at 42. Darryl Kile a relief pitcher for Houston died of coronary disease at 33, two years after winning 20 games. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/10 "2013-01-31T09:09:51Z")
[Victor Trumper](http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7980.html) ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/11 "2013-01-31T09:22:28Z")
Just remembered Lyman Bostock outfielder for Minnesota finished fourth in batting in his first full season, second the next year, went to Angles as a free agent and was murdered just before the next season ended (1978.) Eugene “Big Daddy” Lipsomb was a 6’6" 300 pound defensive tackle in the NFL, before that became the standard, who never attended college but was drafted by the Rams after serving in the Marines. He was said to be the fastest interior lineman in the league. He played 3 years there and then 5 in Baltimore where he was twice selected for the Pro Bowl and voted Best lineman both times. He then played 2 years for the Steelers where he was a fan favorite. While in Pittsburgh he wrestled in the off-season. He died at 31 of a heroin overdose in Baltimore. The coroner said he had enough heroin in his system to kill five people. Everyone who knew him claimed he was not a drug user and in fact was said to be afraid of needles. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/12 "2013-01-31T09:28:25Z")
German national team goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide by jumping in front of an express train outside Hannover in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup. He was 32. I think he was in the mix to be the starting keeper. Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver three years ago at the age of 22, along with 2 other passengers in the car. He had been the starting pitcher hours before. The drunk fled the scene but was later caught. He got 51 years for second-degree murder. Patriots DE Marquise Hill drowned in Lake Pontchartrain a few years ago at 24. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/13 "2013-01-31T09:40:16Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Lou Gehrig yet. Cory Lidle, a pitcher for the Mets, Rays, A’s, Blue Jays, Reds, Phillies and Yankees, died in a plane crash in 2006 at the age of 34. Joe Kennedy, a pitcher for the Rays, Rockies, A’s, Diamonbacks and Blue Jays, died of heart failure in 2007 at the age of 28. Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians died in 1920 at the age of 29 from being hit in the head by a pitch. Donnie Moore, a pitcher for the Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, Braves and Angels, committed suicide in 1989 at the age of 35. George Gipp, who played football for Notre Dame, died of strep and pneumonia in 1920 at the age of 25. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/14 "2013-01-31T12:53:28Z")
Distance runner Steve Prefontaine died at 24 in a car accident. Elizabeth Busche was on the winning women’s team at last year’s U.S. Junior curling championship, and played at the world championship in Sweden. She died two months later of cancer. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/15 "2013-01-31T14:26:49Z")
Walt Bond, a first basemen for Cleveland, Houston, and Minnesota died of leukemia in 1967 at age 29. Tony Lema, winner of a dozen PGA tournaments including the Open in 1964, died in a plane crash at age 32. Ironically, the plane crashed into a water hazard on a golf course. The '60s was not a good decade for athletes flying in private aircraft. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/16 "2013-01-31T14:56:21Z")
If you consider Auto Racers athletes (I do), the sport is full of them. On the track, there was Dale Earnhart (49), Neil Bonnett (47) – possibly stretching the definition of “too young,” but still not their time; Fireball Roberts (35), Ayrton Senna (34), Dan Wheldon (33), Adam Petty (19)… the list goes on. Some off-track deaths include Alan Kulwicki at 38 in a plane crash, just months after winning the NASCAR championship, and Davey Allison at 32, who crashed his own helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/17 "2013-01-31T15:02:13Z")
Gaines Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/18 "2013-01-31T15:18:27Z")
Mark Donohue won the 1972 Indy 500 at age 35. Three years later he died in a car crash while test driving a race car. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/19 "2013-01-31T15:22:30Z")
Ray Chapman, Cleveland infielder, killed by a pitch in 1920. Darryl Kile, by the way, was actually a starting pitcher for the Cardinals when he died, not a reliever for Houston (he had pitched for the Astros earlier in his career). Another Houston pitcher, Don Wilson, died young too in the early seventies while still an active (and good) player. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/20 "2013-01-31T15:34:51Z")
**Benny “The Kid” Paret** - boxer, died in the ring at the age of 25. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871.md?page=2)