MLB History: Tragic Deaths That Shocked the Game

The death of Jose Fernandez was a huge shock to the MLB and fans of the game. Let us look back and some of the other players who were struck down in the prime of their lives.

It is always shocking when a young person dies, either through illness or unexpectedly. These people, cut down in the prime of their lives, with so much ahead of them, leave a hole that can never be filled. Their impact, and the memories they left behind, will never be forgotten.

That shock and sadness is magnified when the young person in question is an athlete. While death does not care about a person’s age or profession, it is always a shock when a young athlete is cut down in the prime of their lives and careers. That is especially the case when these players are just getting started.

This is why it was such a shock when the news that Jose Fernandez was killed early Sunday morning broke. Players across the MLB were saddened by his sudden loss, shocked that the Marlins ace was taken away in the prime of his life. Yet, Fernandez was not the first to be taken away during his career, and he will unfortunately not be the last.

And so, as we mourn the loss of Jose Fernandez, let us take a look at those other players whose deaths, either due to an accident or by the own hand, ended their careers, and lives, earlier than anyone would have expected.