Great Players careers cut short by injury.

dickysty · 05-25-2002, 02:55 PM

Hey All,
I'm trying to add a little spice to my fictional league by adding ML players who had their careers cut short by injury. Any help would be great!

Specs · 05-25-2002, 03:09 PM

A sick and twisted mind would say Tony Conigliaro. But I personally will not stoop that low:
Ray Chapman

Mel_Ott · 05-25-2002, 05:12 PM

Hmm... Bo Jackson, anyone?

Leiter22 · 05-25-2002, 05:25 PM

just to name a few

Mark Fydrich
Herb Score
Tony Saunders (was never that great though)

Plus some players who were unfortunately killed while in the majors.

Ken Hubbs
Mike Darr
Steve Olin
Tim Crews

I'm sure there are plenty of others who have had their careers cut short, but I can't think of any more right now.

John C · 05-25-2002, 05:27 PM

I don't know if Bo was *great*, per se...but, I named my dog after him... ; )

Here are a couple...

Roy Fosse, C. This is more on potential...he was the guy who Pete Rose ran over in the 1970 All-Star game, and effectively shortened his career. Who knows if he would have turned out as one of the greats at his position...but he was a young All-Star catcher.

Dickie Thon, SS. Bill James says that Thon could have had a chance at the Hall had he not been hurt in 1984. His career wasn't shortened, but it was severely altered by injury.

Mark Fydrich, P. The Bird. Don't have to say more.

Ed Delahanty, OF. Big Ed was, in my opinion, the greatest overall hitter of his generation. Unfortunately, his shortened career, thanks to falling over Niagra Falls, means that there will never be a definitive answer on this topic.

Addie Joss. Died at 31 of meningitis. Had a 160-97 career record, with a 1.88 ERA. He had another 10 years, easily, or another 200 to 250 wins.

Karl Spooner, P. Spooner was a phenom with the Dodgers in 1954. He K'd 27 in two starts in September, and was tabbed as the one to bring the Dodgers to their long-waited championship. He injured his arm in spring training in 1955, and the Dodgers won anyway.

Those are just a few...if I can think of anymore, I'll post again.

Peace
John

The Professor · 05-25-2002, 05:39 PM

...Lyman Bostock.

Bostock was an outfielder for the Twins and Angels who was a perrenial .300 hitter in the late '70s and when he started slowly one year, after getting a new contract, he gave the bulk of his salary to charity. He was, however, in the wrong place at the wrong time and was shot and killed...another sad case of what might have been? (or, better yet, of the good dying young).

wireman · 05-25-2002, 06:31 PM

How about J.R. Richard of the Astros, who had a stroke near the peak of his career?

-- Louie

wireman · 05-25-2002, 06:39 PM

Come to think of it, it might be stretching a point but I think Harry Agganis of the Red Sox died in 1955, early in his second season. Can't remember the cause.

He could have been a great one. Maybe.

-- Louie

Tiger Fan · 05-25-2002, 06:54 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by wireman:
Come to think of it, it might be stretching a point but I think Harry Agganis of the Red Sox died in 1955, early in his second season. Can't remember the cause.

He could have been a great one. Maybe.

-- Louie<hr /></blockquote>From Baseball Library:
A brilliant athlete and a New England favorite, Agganis was a baseball and football star at Lynn Classical H.S. and Boston University, making All-American as a quarterback. He signed for a reported $35,000 with the Red Sox and after only one minor league season jumped to the majors. His death of leukemia during the 1955 season set Boston hopes for the future back for several seasons. A good fielder who led AL first basemen in assists in 1954, he had 11 HR in 434 at-bats in his rookie season and was hitting .313 at the time of his death

[ 05-26-2002, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: Tiger Fan ]

Dxgarnett · 05-26-2002, 01:55 AM

David Clyde..Fire-Baller prospect who the Rangers over-threw and in turn threw out his arm.

Chris

OOTP Rocks · 05-26-2002, 02:27 AM

Would Don Mattingly be a good example?

I'm thinking had it not been for the injury, he would've been a lock for the Hall of Fame.

He did play after his injury, but he wasn't even a mere shadow of his former self. His biggest deficit was in the power department.

What do you guys think?

johnnyshaka · 05-26-2002, 07:59 AM

Kirby Puckett certainly had a few more good years in him...no?

jafware · 05-26-2002, 10:49 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by John C:
I don't know if Bo was *great*, per se...but, I named my dog after him... ; )

<hr /></blockquote>That's cool. I named my dog (sweetest Black Lab ever) after him too...I loved watching Bo play baseball, but as a Raider fan, his injury was rather heartbreaking..

Jeff

LAH · 05-26-2002, 11:11 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by jafware:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by John C:
I don't know if Bo was *great*, per se...but, I named my dog after him... ; )

<hr /></blockquote>That's cool. I named my dog (sweetest Black Lab ever) after him too...I loved watching Bo play baseball, but as a Raider fan, his injury was rather heartbreaking..

Jeff<hr /></blockquote>I named my german shepard after him...

Specs · 05-26-2002, 11:19 AM

Wow. Just wow. And to think I named my dog after Marty McFly from Back to the Future.

majormet · 05-26-2002, 05:02 PM

I would say most of the players above would be considered up there although Ray Fosse was not a great player.

I would also consider:

Walt Bond - died of leukemia

Jimmie Hall - Angels OF of the early 60's

Ben McDonald - He had great stuff for LSU and showed potential brilliance for O's and Brewers.

Mario Soto - this guy had it all for the Reds and was done by the time he was 26 I think.

Thurman Munson - I hate the Bronx Bombers, but he had 4-6 years left in him before he decided to fly his own plane.

Lenny Dykstra - ONe could only think how he would have fared if he didn't get hurt.

Steve Kline - This would be the Yankees pitcher in the early to mid 70's, he was the ace to be.

Joe Lefevbre - This guy came up with a bang and then got banged up pretty good.

Ellis Valentine - I put this guy up there because he was part of the most amazing group of outfielders ever produced in the late 70's with the Expos. Valentine got beaned in the face and that was it, he was terrified of the ball, just wish the Mets didn't deal Reardon to get the damaged form of him.

Valentine came up with Dawson and Cromartie, with Raines, Tim Wallach, and their biggest prospect Terry Francona in the wings.

Nero · 05-26-2002, 07:02 PM

Gotta second Lyman Bostock. A tremendously pure hitter, always had to wonder what he could have done.....

I however would NOT include such players as:

Ben McDonald
Mario Soto
Don Mattingly

My reasoning, is that I took your question, to mean that you wanted players who's careers were cut short due to injury. Soto, McDonald, and Mattingly all had injuries, yet STILL played. Had they not gotten hurt perhaps they could have done more, but they all still played, perhaps at a different level. Which is part of the game. Want to guess how George Halas could have played if Babe Ruth wasnt in RF for the Yankees ?? If Wally Pipp had stayed 100% healthy, would he have been a HoF for the Yankees ?? How about Rondell White, or Andre Dawson ?? Give 'em both healthy knees, what do you think ??

What I think you are getting at, and maybe I'm wrong. Is players who either lost their career due to injury, or tragedy. Granted I could be wrong, but morbid or not, it's a more realistic question.....

Hell, going the other way, wonder how good Ken Griffey Jr. could have been if he didnt break his wrist in Seattle ???

[ 05-27-2002, 01:17 AM: Message edited by: Nero ]

One51 · 05-26-2002, 07:29 PM

This is a little off topic, but does anyone know where I can find a list of MLB or any sports players that have died while still active in sports? And possibly huge career ending/changing injuries?

Thanks

Killebrew · 05-26-2002, 10:27 PM

Bob Moose is another of the players that died while still in baseball. Pretty depressing thinking about it actually - I remember taking his APBA card out of the Pittsburgh team envelope as it did not seem right using the card. Same deal with Lyman Bostock a few years after that.

Hopefully this "coulda' been" league will just stress career ending injury players

.

Redhead_Alaskan · 05-26-2002, 10:39 PM

I would like to toss in another vote for Kirby Puckett. He had atleast 3 solid years left in him.

05-25-2002, 02:55 PM	#1
dickysty Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 348	Great Players careers cut short by injury. Hey All, I'm trying to add a little spice to my fictional league by adding ML players who had their careers cut short by injury. Any help would be great! __________________ NABA - Baltimore Blue Claw's Dynasty

05-25-2002, 05:12 PM	#3
Mel_Ott Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 924	Hmm... Bo Jackson, anyone? __________________ jgross's worst nightmare!!!!111 Owner, Sin City Swingers, OBTL

05-25-2002, 05:25 PM	#4
Leiter22 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 22	just to name a few Mark Fydrich Herb Score Tony Saunders (was never that great though) Plus some players who were unfortunately killed while in the majors. Ken Hubbs Mike Darr Steve Olin Tim Crews I'm sure there are plenty of others who have had their careers cut short, but I can't think of any more right now. __________________ FBBL Blue Jays 2003- Current

05-25-2002, 05:27 PM	#5
John C Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Albion, RI Posts: 2,282 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	I don't know if Bo was great, per se...but, I named my dog after him... ; ) Here are a couple... Roy Fosse, C. This is more on potential...he was the guy who Pete Rose ran over in the 1970 All-Star game, and effectively shortened his career. Who knows if he would have turned out as one of the greats at his position...but he was a young All-Star catcher. Dickie Thon, SS. Bill James says that Thon could have had a chance at the Hall had he not been hurt in 1984. His career wasn't shortened, but it was severely altered by injury. Mark Fydrich, P. The Bird. Don't have to say more. Ed Delahanty, OF. Big Ed was, in my opinion, the greatest overall hitter of his generation. Unfortunately, his shortened career, thanks to falling over Niagra Falls, means that there will never be a definitive answer on this topic. Addie Joss. Died at 31 of meningitis. Had a 160-97 career record, with a 1.88 ERA. He had another 10 years, easily, or another 200 to 250 wins. Karl Spooner, P. Spooner was a phenom with the Dodgers in 1954. He K'd 27 in two starts in September, and was tabbed as the one to bring the Dodgers to their long-waited championship. He injured his arm in spring training in 1955, and the Dodgers won anyway. Those are just a few...if I can think of anymore, I'll post again. Peace John __________________ Facebook \| My Videos

05-25-2002, 05:39 PM	#6
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	...Lyman Bostock. Bostock was an outfielder for the Twins and Angels who was a perrenial .300 hitter in the late '70s and when he started slowly one year, after getting a new contract, he gave the bulk of his salary to charity. He was, however, in the wrong place at the wrong time and was shot and killed...another sad case of what might have been? (or, better yet, of the good dying young). __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

05-25-2002, 06:31 PM	#7
wireman All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Harrisonburg VA Posts: 765	How about J.R. Richard of the Astros, who had a stroke near the peak of his career? -- Louie __________________ "Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't."

05-25-2002, 06:39 PM	#8
wireman All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Harrisonburg VA Posts: 765	Come to think of it, it might be stretching a point but I think Harry Agganis of the Red Sox died in 1955, early in his second season. Can't remember the cause. He could have been a great one. Maybe. -- Louie __________________ "Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't."

05-25-2002, 06:54 PM	#9
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,873	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by wireman: <strong>Come to think of it, it might be stretching a point but I think Harry Agganis of the Red Sox died in 1955, early in his second season. Can't remember the cause. He could have been a great one. Maybe. -- Louie</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">From Baseball Library: A brilliant athlete and a New England favorite, Agganis was a baseball and football star at Lynn Classical H.S. and Boston University, making All-American as a quarterback. He signed for a reported $35,000 with the Red Sox and after only one minor league season jumped to the majors. His death of leukemia during the 1955 season set Boston hopes for the future back for several seasons. A good fielder who led AL first basemen in assists in 1954, he had 11 HR in 434 at-bats in his rookie season and was hitting .313 at the time of his death <small>[ 05-26-2002, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: Tiger Fan ]</small> __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

05-26-2002, 01:55 AM	#10
Dxgarnett All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 614	David Clyde..Fire-Baller prospect who the Rangers over-threw and in turn threw out his arm. Chris __________________ Buckcheeks was here.

05-26-2002, 02:27 AM	#11
OOTP Rocks Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 119	Would Don Mattingly be a good example? I'm thinking had it not been for the injury, he would've been a lock for the Hall of Fame. He did play after his injury, but he wasn't even a mere shadow of his former self. His biggest deficit was in the power department. What do you guys think?

05-26-2002, 07:59 AM	#12
johnnyshaka All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 680	Kirby Puckett certainly had a few more good years in him...no? __________________

05-26-2002, 10:49 AM	#13
jafware Bat Boy Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 9	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by John C: <strong>I don't know if Bo was great, per se...but, I named my dog after him... ; ) </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">That's cool. I named my dog (sweetest Black Lab ever) after him too...I loved watching Bo play baseball, but as a Raider fan, his injury was rather heartbreaking.. Jeff

05-26-2002, 11:11 AM	#14
LAH Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Field of Screams Posts: 445	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by jafware: <strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by John C: <strong>I don't know if Bo was great, per se...but, I named my dog after him... ; ) </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">That's cool. I named my dog (sweetest Black Lab ever) after him too...I loved watching Bo play baseball, but as a Raider fan, his injury was rather heartbreaking.. Jeff</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I named my german shepard after him... __________________ The Captain

05-26-2002, 05:02 PM	#16
majormet Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,536	I would say most of the players above would be considered up there although Ray Fosse was not a great player. I would also consider: Walt Bond - died of leukemia Jimmie Hall - Angels OF of the early 60's Ben McDonald - He had great stuff for LSU and showed potential brilliance for O's and Brewers. Mario Soto - this guy had it all for the Reds and was done by the time he was 26 I think. Thurman Munson - I hate the Bronx Bombers, but he had 4-6 years left in him before he decided to fly his own plane. Lenny Dykstra - ONe could only think how he would have fared if he didn't get hurt. Steve Kline - This would be the Yankees pitcher in the early to mid 70's, he was the ace to be. Joe Lefevbre - This guy came up with a bang and then got banged up pretty good. Ellis Valentine - I put this guy up there because he was part of the most amazing group of outfielders ever produced in the late 70's with the Expos. Valentine got beaned in the face and that was it, he was terrified of the ball, just wish the Mets didn't deal Reardon to get the damaged form of him. Valentine came up with Dawson and Cromartie, with Raines, Tim Wallach, and their biggest prospect Terry Francona in the wings.

05-26-2002, 07:02 PM	#17
Nero Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 206	Gotta second Lyman Bostock. A tremendously pure hitter, always had to wonder what he could have done..... I however would NOT include such players as: Ben McDonald Mario Soto Don Mattingly My reasoning, is that I took your question, to mean that you wanted players who's careers were cut short due to injury. Soto, McDonald, and Mattingly all had injuries, yet STILL played. Had they not gotten hurt perhaps they could have done more, but they all still played, perhaps at a different level. Which is part of the game. Want to guess how George Halas could have played if Babe Ruth wasnt in RF for the Yankees ?? If Wally Pipp had stayed 100% healthy, would he have been a HoF for the Yankees ?? How about Rondell White, or Andre Dawson ?? Give 'em both healthy knees, what do you think ?? What I think you are getting at, and maybe I'm wrong. Is players who either lost their career due to injury, or tragedy. Granted I could be wrong, but morbid or not, it's a more realistic question..... Hell, going the other way, wonder how good Ken Griffey Jr. could have been if he didnt break his wrist in Seattle ??? <small>[ 05-27-2002, 01:17 AM: Message edited by: Nero ]</small>

05-26-2002, 07:29 PM	#18
One51 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 49	This is a little off topic, but does anyone know where I can find a list of MLB or any sports players that have died while still active in sports? And possibly huge career ending/changing injuries? Thanks

05-26-2002, 10:27 PM	#19
Killebrew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 3,326	Bob Moose is another of the players that died while still in baseball. Pretty depressing thinking about it actually - I remember taking his APBA card out of the Pittsburgh team envelope as it did not seem right using the card. Same deal with Lyman Bostock a few years after that. Hopefully this "coulda' been" league will just stress career ending injury players . __________________ FOBL Capital City Metropolitans CDL Minnesota Twins

05-26-2002, 10:39 PM	#20
Redhead_Alaskan Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 224	I would like to toss in another vote for Kirby Puckett. He had atleast 3 solid years left in him. __________________ "Never conform"-Woody Mesa