Since ESPN didn't do this list (as far as I know)

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The first post does say 25 years.

 

And Drazen Petrovic is another outstanding pick. I can't believe that slipped by as well.

[Styles 0]

Fine, how about that umpire that dropped dead on the field a few years back?

[bob_barron 0]

Drazen was just a punch in the stomach to everyone. I remember being in 4th grade hearing that news and it just was such a shock to listen to. Everyone at school was really upset that day. He was so awesome

[Slayer 0]

The Flyers goalie who died in the mid-80's (help)

[treble 0]

Pelle Lindbergh

[Red Baron 0]

Greg Moore would be there for Canadians

[Vern Gagne 0]

Moore's crash was one of the most horrific moments in sports. You know when the accident happened, he wasn't going to make it.

 

Chucky Mullens from Ole Miss.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

The Flyers goalie who died in the mid-80's (help)

Flyers have been a pretty cursed organization:

-Pelle Lindbergh

-Dmitri Tertyshny falling off the boat and getting his neck sliced

-Barry Ashbee getting leukemia

-Yannick Dupree getting leukemia

-Gene Hart's daughter getting cancer (she lived, though)

[nl5xsk1 0]

Sorry for the quasi-thread jack, but how do you guys define tragedy? If someone willingly puts their own life at risk & dies as a result, it's not a tragedy to me. Not to sound callous, but to me someone passing away while drag racing a teammate shouldn't merit a high place on a 'biggest tragedy' list. It's unfortunate, and I'm sure it really struck a painful nerve for fans of Phills and his team (Charlotte?) ... but it's Darwinism more than a tragedy. Same with the Cleveland players drunk-boating. Or Heatley killing Snyder because of crashing while speeding. Or Bias ODing on coke.

 

To me, it's awkward to have "Roberte Clemente dies while flying to help a country after a natural disaster" on the same list as "idiot speeds and kills himself".

 

/just my two cents

[Dr. Tom 0]

Fine, how about that umpire that dropped dead on the field a few years back?

That's a good one. I can't pull the name right now, but I remember the incident. I also remember then-Reds owner Marge Schott being completely classless about the whole incident.

 

I'd also add former umpire Steve Palermo getting shot while being a good Samaritan, something that ended his career as an umpire, and he was a dashed good one.

 

Something else I haven't seen mentioned... Jimmy V succumbs to cancer.

[CanadianChris 0]

Fine, how about that umpire that dropped dead on the field a few years back?

That's a good one. I can't pull the name right now, but I remember the incident. I also remember then-Reds owner Marge Schott being completely classless about the whole incident.

John McSherry. Happened on Opening Day 1996. Good ol' Marge whined about Opening Day for the Reds being ruined as a result:

 

"Snow this morning and now this. I don't believe it. I feel cheated. This isn't supposed to happen to us, not in Cincinnati. This is our history, our tradition, our team. Nobody feels worse than me."

 

(from baseballlibrary.com)

[Slayer 0]

I'd also add former umpire Steve Palermo getting shot while being a good Samaritan, something that ended his career as an umpire, and he was a dashed good one.

I just looked up the information on Palermo, and turns out he was shot by an Army guy

 

Thankfully, the fucker got 75 years for it.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

 

I can't believe only one guy said Robert Clemente and Payne Stewart.

I'd rate the Colombian soccer player very high up, when you consider what eh died over.

 

By the way, it was the Zambian soccer team, in 1994. 18 players died. I believe it was in April.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Bison Dele (formerly Brian Williams)

[Red Baron 0]

Since its ESPN, and they are pretty stupid people working there.

 

Apollo Creed.

[Slayer 0]

If we were to go outside the 25 year rule, I would also include the Wichita State and Marshall football team plane crashes within two months in '70

 

The Wichita State one is big for me because I go there and drive by the memorial every day, plus one of the survivors was my middle school gym teacher

[Slayer 0]

Speaking of plane crashes, I forgot the Oklahoma State basketball plane that crashed in early '01

[nogoodnick 0]

The Oklahoma State Basketball team accident

Malik Sealy's accident

[Styles 0]

I can't believe only one guy said Robert Clemente

I'm still a little lost on timeframes, I wasn't sure if Clemente was before or after but he'd be an EASY #1 if he's eligble and near the top on an all time list.

[Styles 0]

I think we should open this thread up to all time sports tragedies, since its hard to confine past a certain year.

 

The 1972 murder of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich by Arab terrorists was sickening and tragic.

[Guest Harry Hood]

Did anyone mention Hank Gathers? They would have messed some people up in the NCAA's that year with him and Bo Kimble. I tear up a bit when I see clips of Kimble's left hadned free throw.

 

 

EDIT: wow i mention his name but then spell it wrong...

[Guest Staravenger]

Edit. Was correct in a post below.

[Guest Evolution]

ESPN probably wouldn't touch a list like this, because they can't produce it in their jovial way with the random black guy dancing around and announcing the numbers with the Lip Girls. They'd actually have to take something professionally, like they should've done to begin with (VH1's presentation of the 100 Most Shocking Moments in Rock is a good example of doing a top ## list right)

 

Editoral aside:

 

(no particular order, they were all tragedies in their own right)

Hank Gathers

Darryl Kile

Roberto Clemente

Payne Stewart

Drazen Petrovic

[nl5xsk1 0]

Kirby Puckett being forced to retire after getting hit by a pitched (in the face) could be in a top 50 one, although it's nowhere near as tragic as someone being killed by murder, freak accidents, etc. etc.

 

IIRC, he lost (most of) his vision in his right eye. With my lucky in the last few days, that's probably wrong.

Kirby Puckett got hit by a pitch? I thought he got glaucoma, and that's what cost him his vision.

 

If we're doing all time, Tony Conigliaro would have to make the list. The guy was a superstar in the making, and took a fastball in the eye. Tried coming back but was only a shell of his former self, and became one of Boston's greatest "what if?'s".

 

http://bostondirtdogs.com/2004/TC_062270_si.jpg

[Guest Staravenger]

Damn, my mind has really gone to shit. I just double checked and it's glaucoma. I must've crossed my thoughts thinknig of another player then, cause I could've sworn a player had to retire because of being injured being hit by a pitch.

[Guest Evolution]

Damn, my mind has really gone to shit. I just double checked and it's glaucoma. I must've crossed my thoughts thinknig of another player then, cause I could've sworn a player had to retire because of being injured being hit by a pitch.

Well, Tony Conigliaro as previously mentioned was an example of that. Kirby did get his SEASON ended prematurely by a pitch that hit him in the jaw and screwed him up terribly, but it didn't end his career.

[Guest Staravenger]

OK, I need to stop posting for a bit. It was right in front of my eyes and I missed it. (hangs head in shame)

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Some All Time Mentions.....

 

Addie Joss. HOF pitcher developed tubercular meningitis, and died in early 1911.

 

Christy Mathewson. His lungs were scarred in a poison gas attack in WWI, ending his career. He died a premature death in 1925.

 

Don Wilson. Committed suicide in 1975.

 

Lou Gehrig.

 

Lyman Bostock. Murdered in 1978.

 

Gil Hodges. Died of a heart attack during spring training, at the age of 47.

[Slayer 0]

Chuck Hughes

 

Red Sox player whose name I forget from the late 1890's who went crazy and killed his wife, daughter and eventually himself