# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/61 "2013-02-12T23:13:56Z")
Red Sox fans of a certain vintage will remember [Harry Agganis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Agganis), the Golden Greek. Died of pulmonary embolism at age 26. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/62 "2013-02-16T16:33:38Z")
Ernie Davis, first African-American Heisman Trophy winner (1961), of leukemia in 1963. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/63 "2013-02-16T18:35:20Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > How could I forget the last white player to lead the NBA in scoring? > > Pistol Pete Maravich was only 40 when he died during a shirts and skins pickup basketball game with several friends, including famed conservative evangelical James Dobson. > > Apparently, Pete had a congenital heart problem nobody knew about. Yep, he did not have a left coronary artery. Amazingly, he played pro-level sports with his right coronary artery hugely increased in size as it compensated for the genetic error. I have no idea how he even made it to 40, but what a tragic end. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/64 "2013-02-16T19:47:06Z")
Italian cyclist Marco Pantani > **[Marco Pantani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Pantani)** > > Stage races > Marco Pantani (Italian pronunciation: \[ˈmarko panˈtaːni\]; 13 January 1970 – 14 February 2004) was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely regarded as the greatest climbing specialist in the history of the sport by measures of his legacy, credits from other riders, and records. He recorded the fastest ever climbs up the Tour's iconic venues of Mont Ventoux (46:00) and Alpe d'Huez (36:50), and all-time greats including Lance Armstrong and Charly Gaul have hailed Pantani's climbing sk... Tommy Simpson - died whilst leading the Tour De France > **[Tom Simpson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Simpson)** > > Stage races > One-day and classic races > Thomas Simpson (30 November 1937 – 13 July 1967) was one of Britain's most successful professional cyclists. He was born in Haswell, County Durham, and later moved to Harworth, Nottinghamshire. Simpson began road cycling as a teenager before taking up track cycling, specialising in pursuit races. He won a bronze medal for track cycling at the 1956 Summer Olympics and a silver at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Quite a few other riders too, > **[List of racing cyclists and pacemakers with a cycling-related death](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_cyclists_who_died_during_a_race)** > > The first documented deaths of competitive cyclists during competition or training date to the 1890s and early 1900s when the recently-invented safety bicycle made cycling more popular, both as a sport and as a mode of transport. The athletes listed here were either professional cyclists, professional pacemakers or well-known competitive amateurs who had a cycling-related death, mostly during a race or during training. Pacemakers are motorcyclists utilized in motor-paced racing, riding motorcy There is strong circumstantial evidence there have been many deaths of cyclists due to drugs, especially EPO, conservative estimates put this at 20 odd during a period of 1999-2003, however these are probably the tip of the iceberg since this only covers the pro riders, and there are very many more amateurs, add to this all those riders whose careers were long done, such as Jacques Anquetil and but died much earlier than average. > **[Doping Part of Professional Cycling’s Culture](http://thesportdigest.com/2012/06/doping-part-of-professional-cyclings-culture/)** > > Professional cycling, one of the most popular sports in Europe and rich in history, has been plagued in recent years by suspicions of performance-enhancing drug use by many riders, positive drug te… > **[5 Irresistible Reasons To Buy Old Navy Running Shorts](https://runningshorts.com/brands/old-navy/old-navy-running-shorts/)** > > Mention "athletic wear" and well-established brands such as Nike and Adidas would likely come to mind. When it comes to running shorts, Old Navy might not be the first choice of many. After all, the brand is more known for producing comfortable... Yet despite this, I have seen dopers argue that drug use in sport should be allowed since it is so difficult to stamp out or control, maybe those dopers have an appropriate handle. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_from\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Man\_from\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_from_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/65 "2013-02-16T19:56:40Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Or the 50+ Italian footballers that died of the same thing in the eighties/nineties. This is absolutely horrifying. I know that there were two high profile players in Italian soccer who died young with this disease but had no idea the number was this high (unless the number is exaggerated). Surely there is some kind of investigation being done to try to understand why this is happening at such a high rate and limited, apparently, to Italian soccer. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/66 "2013-02-16T23:48:22Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > Red Sox fans of a certain vintage will remember [Harry Agganis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Agganis), the Golden Greek. Died of pulmonary embolism at age 26. Other Boston athletes: Tony Conigliaro Reggie Lewis Len Bias Darryl Stingley ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/67 "2013-02-17T03:28:48Z")
How about Colombian soccer player Andrés Escobar? He was murdered after accidentally scoring a goal against his own team in a match against the USA. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/68 "2013-02-17T10:07:12Z")
> [@Tony](#): > > This is absolutely horrifying. I know that there were two high profile players in Italian soccer who died young with this disease but had no idea the number was this high (unless the number is exaggerated). Surely there is some kind of investigation being done to try to understand why this is happening at such a high rate and limited, apparently, to Italian soccer. [This article](http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/08/europeanfootball.serieafootball) from The Guardian gives the number of casualties as 51. This was five years ago; there may well be more since. Investigations are being carried out, repetitive head trauma and pesticides have been put forward as triggers but, as you say, why apparently limited to Italian soccer? ---
**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:** [February 17, 2013, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/69 "2013-02-17T11:51:55Z")
Here’s another take on this topic: what about thoroughbred race horses that died too young? In a sense, they are “athletes.” [**Ruffian** the filly was three in 1976 when she broke down in a match race against that year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Foolish Pleasure](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffian_(horse)). I watched that race live, and she was pulling away when she broke down. [In 2006, Kentucky Derby winner **Barbaro** broke down in the Preakness Stakes and never recovered.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbaro) ---
**Author:** ![akw204](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47774/32.png) [@akw204](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akw204)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/70 "2013-02-18T19:51:35Z")
A Chicago native basketball player who was ranked 1 in the nation who died in a shooting before his senior year of basketball in highschool at 17 or 18 I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Molesworth\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Molesworth\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molesworth_2)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/71 "2013-02-23T11:00:51Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Here’s another take on this topic: what about thoroughbred race horses that died too young? In a sense, they are “athletes.” > > [**Ruffian** the filly was three in 1976 when she broke down in a match race against that year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Foolish Pleasure](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffian_(horse)). I watched that race live, and she was pulling away when she broke down. > > [In 2006, Kentucky Derby winner **Barbaro** broke down in the Preakness Stakes and never recovered.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbaro) It really annoys me when people equate horse racing with sport. I have some respect for the show-jumping and cross-country equestrian events at the Olympics (dressage is patently ridiculous). But horse racing has nothing to do with sport. It’s just a form of gambling. Calling a horse an athlete because it won a race is like calling spades an athlete because it won a hand of poker, or calling the number 7 an athlete because it won a hand of craps. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/72 "2013-02-23T13:48:03Z")
> [@Molesworth\_2](#): > > It’s just a form of gambling. Calling a horse an athlete because it won a race is like calling spades an athlete because it won a hand of poker, or calling the number 7 an athlete because it won a hand of craps. So all horses have an equal chance of winning any given race? ---
**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:** [February 28, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/73 "2013-02-28T21:01:08Z")
> [@Molesworth\_2](#): > > …Calling a horse an athlete because it won a race is like calling spades an athlete because it won a hand of poker, or calling the number 7 an athlete because it won a hand of craps. Is this a whoosh? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/74 "2013-02-28T22:08:24Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Darryl Stingley He didn’t exactly \*die \*too young, but he lost his career and his ability to lead a normal life too young. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/75 "2013-02-28T22:12:37Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Yet despite this, I have seen dopers argue that drug use in sport should be allowed since it is so difficult to stamp out or control, maybe those dopers have an appropriate handle. I don’t think any of those top cyclists would have made a different decision even if they’d known it would cost them a couple of decades. For even a brief period, they knew they were on top, they were doing everything they were even theoretically capable of, they were doing something so intense they could nourish themselves off it forever. And those last couple of decades were going to suck anyway. The decision is not one that you or I might make, but I do think it’s understandable - and it’s inevitable that some will make it, now and in the future. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/76 "2013-02-28T22:52:31Z")
**Elvis** -IIRC he was only in his 50s when he died. He was 55. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/77 "2013-02-28T23:36:22Z")
Elvis? An athlete? What was his event? Teevee Shooting? Nanner-Sammich Eatin’? Extreme Colon Prolapse for Distance? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/78 "2013-03-01T02:52:11Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Elvis? An athlete? What was his event? Teevee Shooting? Nanner-Sammich Eatin’? Extreme Colon Prolapse for Distance? I was responding to **ElvisL1ves** about Darryl Stingley. But you knew that! :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [March 1, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/79 "2013-03-01T13:01:14Z")
These guys died after a full career, but they still died too young: Mike Webster (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Junior Seau (San Diego Chargers). ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871/80 "2013-03-01T15:03:25Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I was responding to **ElvisL1ves** about Darryl Stingley. But you knew that! :rolleyes: Actually, Captain Roll-Eyes, I didn’t know that. Sorry for stepping all over your cogent analysis of 55 years of age being young. And as a 47-year-old, I also thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-who-died-too-young/648871.md?page=5)