Random MLB Players Whose Careers Ended Too Soon (25 items)

• 

  (#1) Roberto Clemente

  • Right fielder

  MLB career years: 1955–1972
  Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates

  The end of Clemente's career came in heartbreaking fashion when his plane crashed into the ocean. Clemente died when flying to Nicaragua to provide supplies following an earthquake.
• 

  (#2) Lou Gehrig

  • First baseman

  MLB career years: 1923-1939
  Teams: New York Yankees

  The legendary career of Gehrig ended faster than expected when he was diagnosed with ALS. Gehrig had a few years of dominance left that were robbed from him.
• 

  (#3) Sandy Koufax

  • Pitcher

  MLB career years: 1955–1966
  Teams: Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers

  The retirement of Koufax came at the young age of 30 due to severe arthritis in his left elbow preventing him from pitching at a high level.
• 

  (#4) Thurman Munson

  • Catcher

  MLB career years: 1969–1979
  Teams: New York Yankees

  Munson died during the prime of his career due to a plane crash. The passing at 32 would see the Yankees continue to honor his legacy for the contributions during his time in the sport.
• 

  (#5) Kirby Puckett

  • Outfielder, Center fielder

  MLB career years: 1984-1995
  Teams: Minnesota Twins

  The dominance of Puckett ended in his prime due to a retinal vein occlusion causing him to lose vision in his right eye. His number was retired by the Minnesota Twins, and he died at age 46 after a massive stroke.
• 

  (#6) Tony Conigliaro

  • Right fielder, Outfielder

  MLB career years: 1964-1975
  Teams: Boston Red Sox, California Angels

  The end of Tony Conigliaro's superb MLB career showed how dangerous the game can be. Conigliaro's eyesight started to deteroriate after getting hit by a pitch, which ultimately ended his career.
• 

  (#7) Bo Jackson

  • Designated hitter, Outfielder, Left fielder

  MLB career years: 1986-1994
  Teams: Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, California Angels

  The two-sport life of Jackson would see an injury in the NFL ultimately end his run in the MLB as well. A degenerative hip condition caused Jackson to decline in baseball and eventually retire.
• 

  (#8) Shoeless Joe Jackson

  • Outfielder

  MLB career years: 1908-1920
  Teams: Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps/Indians, Chicago White Sox

  The "Black Sox Scandal" led to the punishment of Jackson and others for their role in intentionally losing the 1919 World Series. Jackson was banned from the sport in the prime of his career.
• 

  (#9) Mark Fidrych

  • Pitcher

  MLB career years: 1976-1980
  Teams: Detroit Tigers

  Fidrych had a tremendous start to his career, winning the AL Rookie of the Year and finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting. Too much pitching in his first season lead to a "dead arm" and various injuries causing him to fall off in his second season.
• 

  (#10) J. R. Richard

  • Starting pitcher, Pitcher

  MLB career years: 1971–1980
  Teams: Houston Astros

  Richard had superb numbers throughout his MLB career, but the run came to an unexpected stop when a stroke ended his career.
• 

  (#11) Don Mattingly

  • Manager, First baseman

  MLB career years: 1982-1995
  Teams: New York Yankees

  Lingering back problems caused Mattingly to retire one year before the Yankees won their first World Series title of the decade.
• 

  (#12) José Fernández

  MLB career years: 2013-2016
  Teams: Miami Marlins

  Fernandez appeared ready for a long career in the MLB with a hot start until his life ended in shocking fashion. The pitcher died at just 24 years old in a boating accident.
• 

  (#13) Lyman Bostock

  • Outfielder, Center fielder

  MLB career years: 1975-1978
  Teams: Minnesota Twins, California Angels

  Lyman Bostock was killed at the age of 27 in a tragic shooting just four years into his major league career. He had a .311 career batting average and appeared to have a long, propserous career ahead of him.
• 

  (#14) Ralph Kiner

  • Outfielder, Left fielder

  MLB career years: 1946-1955
  Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians

  Kiner was one of the best hitters in baseball until lingering back injuries caused him to slow down before making the call to retire.
• 

  (#15) Kerry Wood

  • Relief pitcher, Pitcher

  MLB career years: 1998-2012
  Teams: Chicaago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees

  The dominance of Wood ended abruptly when an in-game injury caused him to get Tommy John surgery. Wood was never the same and retired faster than any fan expected.
• 

  (#16) Nick Adenhart

  • Starting pitcher, Pitcher

  MLB career years: 2008-2009
  Teams: Los Angeles Angels

  Adenhart entered the MLB as a top prospect and delivered a great performance in his first start. It sadly turned out to be his last start as he died hours later in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.
• 

  (#17) Smoky Joe Wood

  • Outfielder, Pitcher

  MLB career years: 1908-1922
  Teams: Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians

  Smoky Joe Wood's career ended thanks to a freak injury suffered when slipping on wet grass during a game. The thumb injury on his throwing hand saw Wood decline a few seasons before hanging it up officially.
• 

  (#18) David Wright

  • Third baseman

  MLB career years: 2004-2018
  Teams: New York Mets

  Wright was on pace to become an all-time Mets great until spinal stenosis forced him to miss action. He played just two full seasons in his final eight years in the major leagues and was forced to retire.
• 

  (#19) Mark Prior

  • Pitcher

  MLB career years: 2002-2006
  Teams: Chicago Cubs

  Prior looked like the ace of the future for the Cubs until the 2003 playoff collapse and and an Achilles tendon injury saw him peak there. Teams eventually gave up on Prior due to his skills declining following the injury.
• 

  (#20) Darryl Kile

  • Starting pitcher, Pitcher

  Teams: Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals
  MLB career years: 1991-2003

  Darryl Kile died at the age of 33 due to a heart attack suffered in his hotel room during a stint with the Cardinals as their No. 2 starting pitcher.
• 

  (#21) Prince Fielder

  • First baseman

  MLB career years: 2005-2016
  Teams: Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers

  The power of Fielder made him a dominant hitter, but his run ended earlier than expected as a result of old neck injuries that resurfaced. Fielder would not get cleared to play by team doctors.
• 

  (#22) Cory Lidle

  • Starting pitcher, Pitcher

  MLB career years: 1997-2006
  Teams: New York Mets, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees

  Cory Lidle died just days after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion when he and a co-pilot crashed their plane into an apartment complex in Manhattan.
• 

  (#23) Brien Taylor

  MLB career years: 1994-1995
  Teams: New York Yankees

  Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum when helping his brother in a fight during the 1993 offseason. It caused his pitching speed to decline and eventualy ended his time playing at the MLB level.
• 

  (#24) Mark Mulder

  • Starting pitcher, Pitcher

  MLB career years: 2000-2008
  Teams: St. Louis Cardinals

  The consistent greatness of Mulder in his first few years ended after he suffered a rotator cuff injury during a game for the Cardinals. Mulder was never the same and was forced to retire before hitting a decade in the MLB.
• 

  (#25) Dave Nilsson

  • Catcher

  MLB career years: 1992-1999
  Teams: Milwaukee Bucks

  Nilsson had a great run in the MLB before choosing to leave the league on his own terms. The decision to return to his home of Australia was made for personal happiness and ended his MLB career.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking