Young Athletes Who’ve Passed Far Too Soon
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Life can be cruel. Things tend to happen without any rhyme or reason. When growing up from young children into adulthood, professional athletes can morph into role models, idols, and people we may ‘think’ we know based on the access we’ve been given through media platforms. However, these athletes are people at the end of the day. Some pass away far too young. This list will look at some of those star athletes who departed us at relatively early ages.
Roberto Clemente (1934-1972)
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One of the most talented outfielders in recent memory, Roberto Clemente had every tool one would look for in the ideal baseball player. The native of Puerto Rico hit for average (career .317 average) and had power to all parts of the field. Clemente was also an outstanding fielder — evidenced by being a 12-time Gold Glove recipient. In total, the 15-time All-Star was phenomenal. Without question, Clemente is the best player to have ever suited up for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sadly, Clemente passed away due to a plane crash in 1972. A proud humanitarian, Clemente was traveling to assist impoverished individuals in Nicaragua. He was only 38 years of age.
Kirby Puckett (1960-2006)
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Despite being only 5-foot-8, Kirby Puckett was one of the best hitters of his generation. The Chicago native had tremendous hand-eye coordination. It allowed him to spray the ball all over the ballpark. A career .318 hitter, Puckett accrued one batting title, 10 All-Star appearances, six Silver Slugger Awards, an MVP Award, six Gold Glove Awards, and also two World Series rings. A wonderfully likable character, Puckett had the entire city of Minneapolis in the palm of his hand. Unfortunately, Puckett passed away at the age of 45 due to complications of a stroke.
Aaron Hernandez (1989-2017)
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Aaron Hernandez had a tale of two lives. One existed on the football field, and one took place off it. On the field, he was fantastic. A hybrid tight end/receiver, Hernandez was physical enough to bully smaller defensive backs while too fast to be bothered by linebackers. It made him a lethal option for Tom Brady to throw the football to in any situation. Off the field, Hernandez’s life was a mess. Involved in a murder scandal, he was sentenced to life in jail. While incarcerated, Hernandez took his own life. He was only 27 years old.
Reggie Lewis (1965-1993)
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Basketball player Reggie Lewis had all the talent in the world. Drafted by the Boston Celtics, Lewis suddenly was surrounded by a host of all-pros and future Hall of Fame members. An elite athlete, Lewis would fly around the court both defensively and in terms of attacking the bucket. As a fifth-year player, Lewis became an All-Star. He averaged a respectable 20.8 points per game playing alongside Larry Bird and Robert Parish. In an offseason workout, Lewis tragically passed away due to a heart problem. He was only 27 years of age.
Malik Sealy (1970-2000)
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Malik Sealy was a solid wing during his time in the NBA. The New York native starred at St. John’s before playing for four professional teams. Aside from being a productive player, Sealy also had an interest in the arts. He was the lead role alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the 1996 cult classic film Eddie. In 2000, Sealy was crashed into by a drunk driver. Unfortunately, Sealy did not survive the crash. The 30-year-old continues to be fondly remembered by the Minnesota Timberwolves faithful. This is particularly the case with Kevin Garnett — as the two were exceptionally close to one another.
Lou Gehrig (1903-1941)
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When analyzing the pinnacle of professional baseball, you’ll see Lou Gehrig right up there at the top. The New York native was a large reason for the New York Yankees’ dynasty throughout the ’20s and ’30s. Starring as a first baseman, Gehrig had supreme hand-eye coordination. He had a .340 lifetime batting average in addition to 493 home runs and over 2,700 hits. Gehrig made seven All-Star games during his career. This included two MVP trophies and six World Series rings. Sadly, Gehrig was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — something which has now been named after him. Gehrig passed at 37 years of age.
Pat Tillman (1976-2004)
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Many view Pat Tillman as a true American hero. After starring in college at Arizona State, Tillman made the jump to the NFL. Playing the role of a hybrid linebacker/safety, the northern California player was a bit of a unique player. Tillman was quick in coverage and highly aggressive when asked to tackle an opponent. His ability to motivate teammates was also quite noteworthy. In the wake of the horrifying 9/11 attacks, Tillman turned down a three-year extension from the Cardinals to enlist in the United States Army. When deployed in Afghanistan, Tillman sadly passed away. An investigation found that he was killed by friendly fire. Tillman was only 27 years old.
Walter Payton (1954-1999)
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Walter Payton was one of the most dynamic running backs in NFL history. “Sweetness” was a joy to watch play — as he routinely evaded defenders with a myriad of spins, shakes, and jaw-dropping movements. Payton’s lateral quickness was phenomenal — as was his feel for the game. He had an uncanny ability to patiently find the hole before bursting out beyond the line of scrimmage into the second level. Very rarely have we seen backs possess Payton’s type of acceleration. A rare liver disease robbed Payton of a lengthy existence. He passed at the young age of 45.
Ernie Davis (1939-1963)
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Though Ernie Davis lived to only be 23 years of age, his impact whilst on Earth was nothing short of sensational. The East Coast native shuttled between Pennsylvania and New York as a youth. During this time, he developed into one of the nation’s top running back prospects. Davis ultimately led Syracuse to the 1959 National Title. He became a two-time First Team All-American. Most impressively, Davis was the first African-American to ever win the Heisman Trophy. His ability to excel amidst the racial tensions of the time was simply phenomenal. Sadly after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Davis passed due to complications from leukemia.
Sean Taylor (1983-2007)
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Sean Taylor had every tool one would want in the prototypical all-pro safety. Taylor was big, fast, and hit exceptionally hard. He also was excellent from an anticipatory standpoint. Taylor would read the eyes of the opposing quarterback with regularity. Once understanding the potential play, Taylor would act accordingly (and usually in the proper manner). A truly phenomenal athlete, few came close to his total package as a football player. As a part of a botched home invasion attempt, Taylor was ruthlessly gunned down in his home at the age of 24. He remains a beloved character around the NFL and the University of Miami.
Steve Prefontaine (1951-1975)
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Oregon native Steve Prefontaine is one of the most prolific American long-distance runners in history. The athlete lost only three times during his entire four-year career at the University of Oregon. This sort of promise led Prefontaine to compete in the 1972 Olympics (where he finished fourth in the 5,000-meter race). After leaving a house party, Prefontaine got involved in a deadly car crash. He was only 24 years of age.
Thurman Munson (1947-1979)
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Though Johnny Bench garnered many of the press clippings when it came to his catching skills, Thurman Munson wasn’t far behind him. The Ohio native was the team’s best catcher since Yogi Berra — and to this day remains an all-time Yankees great at the position. Munson was the team leader for the Yankees throughout the ’70s. He was both a contact hitter and an immense presence behind the plate in terms of throwing runners out. The 7-time All-Star passed suddenly in 1979 due to an airplane crash. He was only 32 years old.
Roy Halladay (1977-2017)
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For over a decade, Roy Halladay was arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball. He likely is the best pitcher in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays franchise. During his time with both the Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies, Halladay accrued eight All-Star appearances, one perfect game, and two Cy Young Awards. Halladay was phenomenal in terms of locating pitches to all parts of the plate. In addition, his cutter was lethal for any left-handed batter to hit against. A vast repertoire of pitches enabled him to keep hitters off balance quite effectively. In 2017, Halladay unexpectedly passed away after his plane (which he was flying) crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.
Salvador Sanchez (1959-1982)
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Salvador Sanchez was an artist in the ring during his prime. Despite registering only 5-foot-6, Sanchez ran circles around opponents with his quickness, foot speed, and ability to disarm with cleverly placed punches. He’d ‘ping’ opponents before dancing away. Essentially, Sanchez was a prototype technical boxer. At 23 years of age, Sanchez passed away due to a car crash. At that point, his career record was 44-1-1.
Drazen Petrovic (1964-1993)
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To this day, Drazen Petrovic remains one of the best European players to ever make their way to the NBA. A supremely skilled player, Petrovic had immense basketball I.Q. He knew how to manipulate angles on the floor quite effectively. In addition, he could score from anywhere on the floor. He shot a blistering 43.7 percent from beyond the arc for his career. As he hit his prime, Petrovic put up back-to-back seasons with at least 20.6 points per contest. At the age of 28, Petrovic tragically died from a freak car accident on a rainy road in Germany. To this day, he’s still revered as an exceptionally respected player.
Jose Fernandez (1992-2016)
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Though only a few years into his career, Jose Fernandez had the appearance of an all-time great. Blessed with a powerful frame, Fernandez was a dominant pitcher for his hometown Miami Marlins. He had wicked torque on a variety of off-speed pitches. Fernandez could hum the ball close to 100 miles per hour with pinpoint accuracy. He even could hit the ball out of the ballpark when hitting at the bottom of the order. Without question, Fernandez was primed to be an elite MLB pitcher for years to come. One fateful night in 2016 changed all of that. Fernandez and two friends died when their boat crashed in the ocean off the coast of Miami. He was only 24 years old at the time of the accident.
Len Bias (1963-1986)
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There’s always going to be the ‘what if’ question arching over the name of the late Len Bias. The 6-foot-9 athlete was a phenomenal basketball player. He could jump out of the gym, attack the rim with reckless abandon, and score in any possible way. Bias had the ideal frame to be a future NBA standout. Unfortunately, Bias’ promising career (and life) was derailed by a drug problem. Bias passed away at 22 years of age due to a cocaine-induced heart attack. This occurred two days after being drafted No. 2 Overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
Derrick Thomas (1967-2000)
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For a decade, linebacker Derrick Thomas was the heart and soul of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. Epitomizing toughness and productivity, Thomas quickly endeared himself to the passionate fan base. He notched a ridiculous 126.5 sacks throughout his career. It’s even more spectacular when factoring in that Thomas accrued these numbers from the linebacker spot. Unfortunately, Thomas got involved in a rather violent car crash. After becoming paralyzed from the chest down, Thomas passed away roughly two weeks later. He was 33 years of age.
Bobby Phills (1969-2000)
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Former shooting guard Bobby Phills was a prototypical athlete from the ’90s. Tough and athletic, Phills could guard multiple spots on the floor. He was an excellent three-point shooter (career 39 percent from beyond the arc). Phills developed into a legitimate professional throughout his 10-year career. Sadly in 2000, Phills passed away after being involved in a car crash featuring then-teammate David Wesley. The Louisiana native was 30 at the time of the accident.
Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)
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Kobe Bryant wasn’t just an NBA superstar…he was a sports icon who helped turn basketball into a global sport. The 5-time NBA champion, 2-time Finals MVP, and 18-time All-Star who currently sits 4th all-time on the NBA scoring list dazzled basketball fans for 20 seasons – all of which were spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. Best remembered for his intensity and dedication to his craft, it feels like a gross understatement to say the NBA will never have another player like Kobe. Tragically, Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, along with seven others.
Stu Ungar (1953-1998)
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Stu Ungar is the best poker player of all-time. His mental acuity for the activity is simply second to none. He was able to perfectly read the situation, and thus respond correctly. Throughout his career, estimations had Ungar winning upwards of $40 million. After being an expert gin rummy player, Ungar transitioned over to the world of poker. However, Ungar’s strong drug addiction shortened his life considerably. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 45 due to heart issues (which could’ve been spurred on by the prolonged use of illegal substances).
Andre The Giant (1946-1993)
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Andre The Giant (real name Andre Roussimoff) was literally a larger-than-life figure. To this day, he remains as the most fascinating wrestler to ever be involved in the sport. His massive size instantly made him a figure of interest. Powerful yet nimble in the ring, Andre quickly grew to be a fan favorite. As the years progressed, urban legends and personal anecdotes came out about Andre’s drinking prowess. If there were anyone wanting to challenge Andre in a drinking contest, they’d likely lose in rather spectacular fashion. Andre passed away in 1994. He was 46 years of age.
Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005)
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The world of wrestling is a funny place. You can be an exceptional athlete, but not necessarily a show-stopping act. Duly, one can have a major proclivity for being great on the mic without possessing much in the way of wrestling ability. Guerrero had both in droves. He was supremely athletic — as evidenced by his ‘five-star frog splash’ specialty. Nicknamed “Latino Heat”, Guerrero was also great in his interactions with fans and other wrestlers. He had a real level of ‘cool’ about him. When factoring in his nearly flawless muscular physique, he simply had everything. Guerrero passed away in 2005 due to heart failure.
Jerome Brown (1965-1992)
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Jerome Brown starred for Miami during the heyday of its football program. A ferocious defensive end, Brown turned a productive college career into a professional one with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former first-round pick made two Pro Bowls within his first four years in the league. However, all of this promise quickly came to an end. At 27 years old, Brown was involved in a fatal car accident. The Eagles retired his number in tribute to his memory.
Hank Gathers (1967-1990)
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After beginning his promising collegiate career at USC, Hank Gathers transferred to Loyola Marymount. He quickly began taking the college basketball scene in Los Angeles by storm. The 6-foot-7 wing was a springy athlete. He had the skill to score from multiple spots on the floor, and opponents had a hard time stopping Gathers when he got it going. Though destined for the NBA, Gathers shockingly died after collapsing on the court during a game versus the Portland Pilots. He was only 23 years old at the time of the tragedy.
Korey Stringer (1974-2001)
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Korey Stringer was a massive individual. Tipping the scales at roughly 350 pounds, the Ohio native was freakishly athletic for a man of his stature. His impressive wingspan was accentuated further by great lateral quickness. As a result, it turned Stringer into an all-pro tackle for the Vikings. At only 27 years of age, Stringer passed after suffering a heat stroke during an offseason training camp period. His number (77) was retired by the Vikings as a result of his contributions to the franchise.
Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001)
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In the stock car racing world, Dale Earnhardt was an absolute giant. Earnhardt first became involved in NASCAR activities dating back to his childhood. His father was also a driver. Throughout his career, Earnhardt proved to be an exceptional talent. He won seven Winston Cup titles, and 76 Winston Cup races overall. Earnhardt operated with a macho mindset on the track. He often pushed the limits of his opponents and was never shy about ‘throwing his weight around’ amidst competition. In 2001, Earnhardt was tragically killed during the final lap of the Daytona 500 race.
Yordano Ventura (1991-2017)
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Yordano Ventura was an up-and-coming baseball star for the Kansas City Royals. Despite having a willowy frame, Ventura would routinely pump in fastballs between 98 to 102 miles per hour. He was an integral fixture behind leading the Kansas City Royals to the 2015 World Series Title over the New York Mets. Everything was setting up perfectly for Ventura to be the team’s ace for the foreseeable future. However, in a tragic incident, Ventura was killed in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
