The most tragic year in baseball - 1970

[1963Topps Set]

If anyone knows of a more tragic year, please let me know, and I may have missed something here.

January 29, 1970 Miguel Fuentes - murdered in a bar fight at age 23. [Seattle Pilots]
February 13, 1970 Paul Edmondson - killed in a car crash at age 27. [Chicago White Sox]
March 31, 1970 Minnie Rojas - paralyzed from neck down in car accident at age 37. [California Angels]
April 17, 1970 Dick Brown - brain tumor ended his career in 1966 and he passed away this date at age 35. [Baltimore Orioles - catcher]
December 14, 1970 Herman Hill - drowned at age 27. [Minnesota Twins]

1970 American League Rookie Of The Year - Thurman Munson - killed in plane crash at age 32 on August 2, 1979
1970 National League Rookie Of The Year - Carl Morton - died suddenly of heart attack at age 39 on April 12, 1983.

[1963Topps Set]

June 16, 1970 Brian Piccolo passed away at age 26. [Chicago Bears]

I know this is Football, but it just underscores how tragic 1970 was in sports.

[mcgwirecom]

The Marshall University plane crash killing the whole football team, November 14, 1970.

Also a month before the Witchita State lost 1/2 it's football team in a plane crash on October 2nd, 1970.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

If anyone knows of a more tragic year, please let me know, and I may have missed something here.

January 29, 1970 Miguel Fuentes - murdered in a bar fight at age 23. [Seattle Pilots]
February 13, 1970 Paul Edmondson - killed in a car crash at age 27. [Chicago White Sox]
March 31, 1970 Minnie Rojas - paralyzed from neck down in car accident at age 37. [California Angels]
April 17, 1970 Dick Brown - brain tumor ended his career in 1966 and he passed away this date at age 35. [Baltimore Orioles - catcher]
December 14, 1970 Herman Hill - drowned at age 27. [Minnesota Twins]

1970 American League Rookie Of The Year - Thurman Munson - killed in plane crash at age 32 on August 2, 1979
1970 National League Rookie Of The Year - Carl Morton - died suddenly of heart attack at age 39 on April 12, 1983.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/b..._still_playing

This is a list of active players who died. 1922 had 4 active players pass away. Several other years, including 1970, had 3. The 1976-77 offseason saw 4 active major leaguers pass away in a less than 3 month period from October 9, 1976 to January 7, 1977.

[1963Topps Set]

The 1976-77 offseason saw 4 active major leaguers pass away in a less than 3 month period from October 9, 1976 to January 7, 1977.

October 9, 1976 Bob Moose - car accident 29th birthday [Pirates]
December 2, 1976 Danny Murtaugh - stroke [Pirates]
December 10, 1976 Danny Thompson - cancer [Rangers]
January 1, 1977 Danny Frisella - dune buggy accident [Brewers]
January 7, 1977 Mike Miley - car accident [Angels]

I still say 1970 was more tragic.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

The 1976-77 offseason saw 4 active major leaguers pass away in a less than 3 month period from October 9, 1976 to January 7, 1977.

October 9, 1976 Bob Moose - car accident 29th birthday [Pirates]
December 2, 1976 Danny Murtaugh - stroke [Pirates]
December 10, 1976 Danny Thompson - cancer [Rangers]
January 1, 1977 Danny Frisella - dune buggy accident [Brewers]
January 7, 1977 Mike Miley - car accident [Angels]

I still say 1970 was more tragic.

What, you mind a little healthy competition?

[gopherfan]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

The 1976-77 offseason saw 4 active major leaguers pass away in a less than 3 month period from October 9, 1976 to January 7, 1977.

October 9, 1976 Bob Moose - car accident 29th birthday [Pirates]
December 2, 1976 Danny Murtaugh - stroke [Pirates]
December 10, 1976 Danny Thompson - cancer [Rangers]
January 1, 1977 Danny Frisella - dune buggy accident [Brewers]
January 7, 1977 Mike Miley - car accident [Angels]

I still say 1970 was more tragic.

Bad year to be a Danny.

[clydepepper]

But, aside from that, How did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Cheer Up Guys!

[cardinalcollector]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

If anyone knows of a more tragic year, please let me know, and I may have missed something here.

January 29, 1970 Miguel Fuentes - murdered in a bar fight at age 23. [Seattle Pilots]
February 13, 1970 Paul Edmondson - killed in a car crash at age 27. [Chicago White Sox]
March 31, 1970 Minnie Rojas - paralyzed from neck down in car accident at age 37. [California Angels]
April 17, 1970 Dick Brown - brain tumor ended his career in 1966 and he passed away this date at age 35. [Baltimore Orioles - catcher]
December 14, 1970 Herman Hill - drowned at age 27. [Minnesota Twins]

1970 American League Rookie Of The Year - Thurman Munson - killed in plane crash at age 32 on August 2, 1979
1970 National League Rookie Of The Year - Carl Morton - died suddenly of heart attack at age 39 on April 12, 1983.

Herman Hill was actually property of the Cardinals when he died. The Twins traded him on October 20.

Baseball Reference: October 20, 1970: Traded by the Minnesota Twins with Bob Wissler (minors) to the St. Louis Cardinals for Sal Campisi and Jim Kennedy.

I was living in Wichita when the Wichita State Football team airplane crash happened. I'll never forget that day.

[1963Topps Set]

In the field of Entertainment, there was its fair share of tragedies.

January 31, 1970 Slim Harpo Heart Attack 46
March 6, 1970 William Hopper [Perry Mason] age 55
September 3, 1970 Alan Wilson [Canned Heat] age 27
September 18, 1970 Jimi Hendrix chokes on vomit age 27
October 4, 1970 Janis Joplin heroin overdose age 27.


But in this field, 1959 was FAR worse!!!!!!

[1963Topps Set]

Plus, and who can forget:

September 3, 1970 Vince Lombardi age 57

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

In the field of Entertainment, there was its fair share of tragedies.

January 31, 1970 Slim Harpo Heart Attack 46
March 6, 1970 William Hopper [Perry Mason] age 55
September 3, 1970 Alan Wilson [Canned Heat] age 27
September 18, 1970 Jimi Hendrix chokes on vomit age 27
October 4, 1970 Janis Joplin heroin overdose age 27.


But in this field, 1959 was FAR worse!!!!!!

Jimi died the same tragic way Carl Lipbalm did. Bonus points if anyone knows who this is.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

Jimi died the same tragic way Carl Lipbalm did. Bonus points if anyone knows who this is.

Suzi Chapstick?

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Suzi Chapstick?

No. Remember her though.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

No. Remember her though.

I had forgotten about Suzi.

So did Mr. Lipbalm die from pulmonary aspiration like Jimi, but in this case from an overdose of a petroleum-based substance?

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by Paul S

I had forgotten about Suzi.

So did Mr. Lipbalm die from pulmonary aspiration like Jimi, but in this case from an overdose of a petroleum-based substance?

No, but good guess. It was in conjunction with an anxiety attack.

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

No, but good guess. It was in conjunction with an anxiety attack.

If anyone is offended by now, I will disclose Carl Lipbalm is a fictional character. That is a good hint.

[gopherfan]

I know the answer now, but not because a little birdie told me, I looked it up. I won't tell the answer because t wasn't a fairway of finding out. You guys are above par when it comes to intelligence. You can figure it out.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by gopherfan

I know the answer now, but not because a little birdie told me, I looked it up. I won't tell the answer because t wasn't a fairway of finding out. You guys are above par when it comes to intelligence. You can figure it out.

Well, my guess was wrong. I looked it up as well after looking up my guess to see if it was right. It was wrong for the name, right (maybe mostly) for the cod.

We can add Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs to the list...
(also fictional)

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by gopherfan

I know the answer now, but not because a little birdie told me, I looked it up. I won't tell the answer because t wasn't a fairway of finding out. You guys are above par when it comes to intelligence. You can figure it out.

Rob, I'm shocked you had to look it up with your user name! Now that's a dead giveaway.