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, results of accidents, acts of violence, or suicide.
Repeated studies have shown that Major League Baseball players have a greater life expectancy than males in the general U.S. population — about five years more, on average, which is attributed to their superior fitness and healthy lifestyles. The longer the active career, the longer the player lives, on average. This correlation is attributed to the maintenance of fitness and increased wealth.

Deaths of active players

This is a list of notable deaths in baseball and untimely deaths of active professional baseball players.
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Major League Baseball

The following Major League Baseball players died during their careers.
PlayerAgePositionTeamCause of deathYearRef
22PitcherLos Angeles Angels of Anaheimcar crash2009
26First basemanBoston Red Soxpulmonary embolism1955
28PitcherMilwaukee Brewersheart attack1982
23PitcherBaltimore Oriolescomplications from use of ephedra2003
22PitcherMiddletown Mansfieldstuberculosis1873
28CatcherBoston Beaneaterssuicide, cut his own throat1900
26PitcherChicago Cubsinfluenza1890
31Third basemanBoston Bravescar crash1924
29OutfielderMinnesota Twinsleukemia1967
36PitcherPittsburgh Piratesappendicitis1949
27OutfielderCalifornia Angelshomicide, gunshot1978
38PitcherChicago Cubsstomach hemorrhage1930
23ShortstopWashington Senatorspurpura hemorrhagia1906
29ShortstopCleveland Indiansstruck on head by a pitch during a game1920
21PitcherSan Francisco Giantsplane crash1969
38OutfielderPittsburgh Piratesplane crash1972
29PitcherNew York Yankeeslung cancer1916
28Second basemanBrooklyn Dodgerstyphoid fever1892
31PitcherCleveland Indiansboat accident 1993
28CatcherLouisville Colonelstuberculosis1888
25OutfielderSan Diego Padrescar crash2002
40First basemanCincinnati Redsappendicitis1924
35OutfielderWashington Senatorsdrowned, swept over Niagara Falls1903
28CatcherSt. Louis Cardinalstyphoid fever1922
34OutfielderBoston Bravestyphoid fever1907
30Third basemanChicago Cubsappendicitis1912
27PitcherChicago White Soxcar crash1970
25PitcherPhiladelphia Quakerstyphoid fever1888
24PitcherMiami Marlinsboat accident2016
29Second basemanPhiladelphia Philliesduodenal ulcer1933
27OutfielderPhiladelphia Quakers/Philadelphia Athleticstuberculosis1891
30PitcherMilwaukee Brewersdune buggy crash1977
23PitcherSeattle Pilotshomicide, gunshot1970
24CatcherBaltimore Oriolesplane crash1956
27OutfielderWashington Senatorskilled during World War II serving in United States Army Air Forces1944
34PitcherCincinnati Redsplane crash1925
27PitcherDetroit Tigersdiabetes1915
24OutfielderSeattle Marinershomicide, stabbing2011
29PitcherSt. Louis Cardinalscar crash2007
29PitcherDetroit Tigersheart attack1937
30CatcherCincinnati Redssuicide, cut his own throat1940
25OutfielderMinnesota Twinsdrowned while swimming1970
27Catcher/OutfielderBrooklyn Atlanticstuberculosis1875
22Second basemanChicago Cubsplane crash1964
31PitcherCleveland Indiansmeningitis1911
28PitcherToronto Blue Jayshypertensive heart disease2007
33PitcherSt. Louis Cardinalsheart attack2002
31OutfielderBrooklyn Dodgerscerebral hemorrhage sustained during a fight on an airplane1935
25PitcherChicago Coltstuberculosis1899
26Third basemanWashington Senatorsappendicitis1920
26CatcherPhiladelphia Philliescar crash1929
34PitcherNew York Yankeesplane crash2006
30PitcherLouisville Colonelstuberculosis1899
27InfielderChicago Cubstesticular cancer1981
27OutfielderSt. Louis Cardinalsbrain tumor1922
27PitcherBrooklyn Superbastuberculosis, complicated by injuries sustained in a carriage accident1901
30First basemanPittsburgh Alleghenystyphoid fever1887
28PitcherBaltimore Oriolessuicide, gunshot1894
28PitcherDetroit Tigerssuicide by inhalation of illuminating gas1903
23ShortstopCalifornia Angelscar crash1977
26CatcherSt. Louis Brown Stockingsindeterminate illness1876
21CatcherBoston Bravescar crash1942
29PitcherPittsburgh Piratescar crash1976
32PitcherBoston Red Soxhomicide, stabbing1932
32CatcherNew York Yankeesplane crash1979
27OutfielderPittsburgh Piratespneumonia1901
27PitcherCleveland Indiansboat accident 1993
38CatcherPhiladelphia Athleticsperitonitis arising from surgery complications following an in-game injury1909
27OutfielderWashington SenatorsBright's disease1909
23OutfielderPhiladelphia Athleticsdrowned while swimming during military training during WWI1918
34InfielderSan Diego Padrescar crash, on his way to join the Padres after being recalled from minor leagues1996
27PitcherLos Angeles Angelsaccidental drug overdose2019
27OutfielderBaltimore Oriolestyphoid malaria1888
34OutfielderBoston Red Soxsuicide by ingestion of carbolic acid1907
25OutfielderCincinnati Redshomicide, gunshot2003
25InfielderCincinnati Redsgeneral streptococcus due to empyema1910
30CatcherBaltimore OriolesBright's disease1893
22OutfielderSt. Louis Cardinalscar crash2014
26PitcherCincinnati Redsnephritis1900
22OutfielderBrooklyn Atlanticsdrowned while fishing1872
29ShortstopTexas Rangersleukemia1976
33PitcherHouston Colt.45smalignant melanoma1964
25PitcherKansas City Royalscar crash2017
25PitcherCalifornia Angelsinoperable brain tumor1965
22OutfielderCleveland Forest Citystuberculosis1872
29PitcherHouston Astroscarbon monoxide poisoning1975
29PitcherCleveland Indianscar crash1993
30OutfielderNew York GiantsBright's disease1927

Former players of Major League Baseball still active in professional baseball at the time of their death.
PlayerAgePositionLast MLB SeasonLast MLB TeamLast TeamCause of deathYearRef
37Infielder2008Houston AstrosCardenales de Laracar accident, murdered 2018
31Shortstop1996Houston AstrosAzucareros del Estecar accident2000
32Catcher1916St. Louis BrownsLittle Rock Travelersinjuries sustained serving in the military during WWI1918
28Outfielder1917Boston BravesSalt Lake City Beesinfluenza, while serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during WWI1918
19Pitcher1963Houston Colt.45sSalisbury Astroscar crash; the youngest former league player to have died.1965
29Pitcher2000San Francisco GiantsSeibu Lionscar accident2001
27First baseman1985Chicago White SoxPonce Lionscar accident1986
37Catcher1989Cincinnati RedsCaracas Lionscrushed by a falling satellite dish1990
27Third baseman1913Cincinnati RedsMobile Sea Gullshit by a pitch in a game 1916
30Outfielder2002Chicago CubsMacoto Cobrascongenital disorder2005
34Pitcher1954Baltimore OriolesSan Antonio Missionshomicide, stabbing1955
32Pitcher2004Texas RangersTigres de Araguacar accident2011
28Catcher1915St. Louis CardinalsSt. Paul Saintspneumonia, while serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WWI1918
33Pitcher2006Milwaukee BrewersYomiuri Giantslightning strike2008
34Pitcher2015Philadelphia PhilliesFree agentcar accident2017
29Pitcher2013Los Angeles AngelsSacramento River Catsorgan failure related to cocaine toxicity2015
40Pitcher1958Chicago White SoxIndianapolis Indiansheart attack1960
26Pitcher1997Atlanta BravesSioux City Explorersheart attack and brain aneurysm2001
37Pitcher2006New York MetsAguilas Cibaenasheart attack2010
33Infielder2014Arizona DiamondbacksKT Wizcar accident2017
39First baseman1908New York GiantsMilwaukee Brewerssuicide, gunshot1910
26Third baseman1995St. Louis CardinalsBrother Elephantscar accident1997
26Third baseman1895Chicago ColtsDubuque Westernstuberculosis1898
27Outfielder1956St. Louis CardinalsOmaha Cardinalsplane crash1956
22Third baseman1894Pittsburgh PiratesWashington Little Senatorstyphoid fever1896
29Pitcher1997Toronto Blue JaysAZL Diamondbackscar crash1999
33Infielder1971California AngelsSalt Lake City Angelscar crash1972
27First baseman1897Louisville ColonelsNorwich Witchesunknown1900
33Infielder2018Los Angeles AngelsCardenales de Laracar accident, murdered 2018
28Relief pitcher2016Chicago White SoxFree agentall-terrain vehicle accident2017

[Minor League Baseball]

Minor league players are listed with their major league affiliate team, else denoted with a dagger if their team was unaffiliated.
PlayerAgePositionTeamCause of deathYearRef
19PitcherCincinnati Redscar accident2018
24OutfielderPittsburgh Piratesheart defect2013
22OutfielderNew York Metscar accident2001
23InfielderMinnesota Twinsnatural causes2019
17OutfielderPittsburgh Piratesbrain trauma from in-game outfield collision1974
28Pitcherblood poisoning1902
37Catcher/ManagerVernon Tigerspneumonia1915
21OutfielderBoston Red Soxboat accident1983
21PitcherColorado Rockiesasthma attack1997
27CatcherDetroit Tigersinjuries sustained in skateboarding accident2019
20PitcherSeattle Marinersinjuries sustained from being hit by a boat while swimming2015

[Negro League Baseball]

Dutch League Baseball">Honkbal Hoofdklasse">Dutch League Baseball

[College baseball]