Erica Blasberg and the 20 Most Tragic Sports Deaths Ever

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LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg was found dead in her Henderson, Nevada home on May 9, 2010.

Her death was recently ruled a suicide, based on the amount of various drugs in her system.

It is always tragic and sudden when an athlete dies unexpectedly. Here are the 20 most tragic sports deaths of all time.

 

20. Corey Smith / Marquis Cooper

Cooper, pictured here, and Smith, were lost at sea.
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Smith, a defensive lineman with the Raiders, and Cooper, a linebacker for the Buccaneers, went on a boat trip with other NFL players and college friends on March 1, 2009.

The boat capsized off the Florida coast, and after two days of searching, Coast Guard rescuers found the boat and former South Florida lineman Nick Schuyler, but Smith, Cooper, and former South Florida player Will Bleakley were never found and are presumed to be dead.

19. Erica Blasberg

Blasberg used a combination of prescription drugs to take her own life.
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On February 28, 1958, British European Airways Flight 609 attempted to depart from Munich to London. On it's third attempt to take off on the snowy night from the slush-covered tarmac, the plane crashed. 20 of the 44 people on board were killed. 

Manchester United's entire team and coaching staff were aboard the plane, returning from a match against Partizan Belgrade in Yugoslavia. 8 players and 3 coaches were killed. 

The young team, nicknamed 'Busby's Babes', named for manager Matt Busby, was devastated. It took them close to 8 years to rediscover the form they had shown in 1958. Never before or since has a team so in the public eye lost so many players in one accident. 

18. Fabio Casartelli

Casartelli was killed during a bike accident during the Tour de France.
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Casartelli was a bicycle racer during the late '80s and early '90s. He met his tragic end during the 15th stage of the 1995 Tour de France.

As Casartelli and several other riders descended the Col de Portet d'Aspet, there was a crash involving several riders. Fabio's head struck the cement bricks of the roadway, and he died on the way to the hospital due to the injury to his head.

A memorial has been erected at the spot where the accident occurred.

17. Josh Hancock

Hancock crashed his car into a truck helping a disabled vehicle.
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Hancock was a middle reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals. On April 29, 2007, Hancock crashed his car into a truck that was assisting a disabled vehicle in the left lane of the highway that night.

Toxicology reports later revealed that Hancock had a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit, and authorities said they also found marijuana and a pipe in his car, although there were no traces of drugs in his system when he died.

16. Aryton Senna

The Formula 1 driver crashed during a race in San Marino.
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The 34-year-old Senna was a Formula One driver from Brazil.

He climbed into his car to race the San Marino Grand Prix despite the death of Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger during qualifying.

Senna was leading the race when his car left the track and struck a concrete barrier. He died instantly. When race officials looked through the wreckage of Senna's car, they found an Austrian flag Senna was going to fly during his victory lap in tribute to his fallen comrade.

15. Dale Earnhardt

Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500.
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Earnhardt was a beloved NASCAR driver and one of the sport's legends before he took the track for the 2001 Daytona 500.

He found himself in the middle of the pack on turn three of the final lap when Sterling Marlin made contact with Earnhardt's bumper. His car veered sharply into the retaining wall, and Earnhardt was killed in the crash.

The loss of one of its icons devastated the NASCAR community, and many fans still fly flags with Dale's iconic No. 3 on them.

14. Jerome Brown

Brown wore number 99 for the Eagles, and was killed when his Corvette hit a telephone pole.
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Jerome Brown was a fifth-year NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles.

On June 25, 1992, Brown lost control of his Corvette at high speed and crashed into a telephone pole. He and his nephew Gus were both killed on impact.

The Eagles retired Brown's No. 99 and coined the slogan "Bring it home for Jerome" in his honor.

13. Steve Prefontaine

Prefontaine, shown here with the mustache, died when he crashed his car.
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Steve Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner in the '70s. He was widely considered one of the best distance runners in the country and America's best hope to medal in the distance events in the Olympics.

On May 30, 1975, Prefontaine's MGB convertible swerved off the road and hit a rock wall. It flipped and pinned Steve beneath it. By the time the first witness on the scene could return with help, the runner known as "Pre" was already gone.

12. Reggie Lewis

Reggie Lewis collapsed on court and died.
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Lewis was a forward for the Boston Celtics from 1987 through 1993 and had been established as a star in the league.

During the offseason, while practicing at Brandeis University, Lewis collapsed on the court, suffering severe cardiac arrest, and died. He had shown warning signs of heart issues the previous year.

Lewis suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which has claimed numerous young athletes over the years.

11. Dan Snyder

Snyder was killed when teammate Dany Heatley crashed his car into a brick wall.
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Snyder was a promising young center for the Atlanta Thrashers in 2003.

On September 29, teammate Dany Heatley crashed his Ferrari into a wall in Atlanta, ejecting the pair from the vehicle. Snyder suffered a fractured skull and brain injuries from the impact. He died six days later.

10. Cory Lidle

Lidle was killed when his plane crashed into a Manhattan high-rise.
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Cory Lidle was a veteran starting pitcher for the New York Yankees.

On October 11, 2006, just days after the Yankees had been eliminated from the playoffs, Lidle crashed his Cirrus SR20 plane into a Manhattan high-rise apartment building, killing himself and his co-pilot.

It was eventually concluded that Lidle's crash was caused by his too-low rate of turning. Had he turned at the correct sharpness, he would simply have flown near the building rather than hitting it.

9. Korey Stringer

Stringer died due to complications from heat stroke.
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Stringer was a widely loved and respected offensive lineman in the NFL for six seasons.

During a training camp practice before the 2001 season, Stringer collapsed. He eventually died from complications related to heatstroke, and the grief-stricken Vikings retired his jersey.

The year before his death, Stringer made his first and final Pro Bowl appearance.

8. Payne Stewart

Stewart died in a plane crash in 1999.
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Stewart was a three-time major champion who was best known for his unique way of dressing. He was the 1999 U.S. Open champion.

On October 25, 1999, Stewart's Learjet depressurized, killing him and everyone on board. A statue has been erected in his honor at Pinehurst golf course.

7. Darryl Kile

Kile died in his sleep in 2002.
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Kile was a major league pitcher with the Cardinals, Rockies, and Astros.

On June 22, 2002, Kile failed to show up for pregame warmups, and a coach was dispatched to find him. Hotel officials entered Kile's room and found him dead. An autopsy revealed two arteries that had been 90 percent clogged, which was believed to be the cause of his death.

6. Sean Taylor

Taylor was shot during a failed burglary attempt at his home.
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Sean Taylor was an incredibly promising, talented safety for the Washington Redskins. He made two Pro Bowls in his three seasons in the NFL.

On November 26, 2007, burglars entered Taylor's home and shot him in the leg. The wound severed his femoral artery, and the safety died a day later. Four men between the ages of 17 and 20 were eventually arrested and charged with his murder.

5. Roberto Clemente

Clemente died on a mission to help people in Nicaragua.

Clemente was one of the greatest outfielders in baseball history. He helped lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to the World Series crown in 1960 and 1971.

In 1972, a massive earthquake struck Nicaragua, and the country was desperate for aid. Clemente spearheaded the efforts, flying with many planeloads of supplies to ensure they were delivered to the people who needed them.

On December 31, 1972, Clemente boarded a cargo plane 5,000 pounds overweight with supplies, bound for Nicaragua. The plane crashed almost immediately after takeoff.

4. Nick Adenhart

Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver the night after he pitched for the Angels.
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Adenhart was a promising young pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. On April 8, 2009, he pitched six shutout innings for the Angels. 

Just after midnight on April 9, Adenhart's car was hit by a vehicle running a red light, and Adenhart died a few hours later in the hospital.

The man responsible was eventually arrested and charged with three counts of murder.

3. Thurman Munson

Munson died when the plane he was piloting crashed.
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Thurman Munson was a seven-time All-Star catcher with the New York Yankees. In 1976, he was the AL MVP.

On August 2, 1979, Munson took off in his Cessna Citation I/SP as part of his practicing takeoffs and landings. On the approach to the runway of one of his attempts, he clipped a tree, and the plane hit a tree stump short of the runway, bursting into flames. Munson was 32 when he died.

The Yankees bronzed much of Munson's equipment, preserving his locker the way it was for future generations.

2. Len Bias

Bias was a first-round pick of the Boston Celtics who died from cocaine overdose.

Len Bias had all the potential in the world. A high flyer who played basketball with passion, energy, and dedication, he was the Boston Celtics' first-round pick in 1986.

Two days after he was chosen, Bias was found dead from cocaine overdose. The loss devastated the team and the fanbase, who saw a potential star to complement Larry Bird in Bias. He was 22.

1. 1958 Manchester United Plane Crash

This plane crash claimed the lives of eight Manchester players, devastating the team

On February 28, 1958, British European Airways Flight 609 attempted to depart from Munich to London. On its third attempt to take off on the snowy night from the slush-covered tarmac, the plane crashed. Twenty of the 44 people on board were killed.

Manchester United's entire team and coaching staff were aboard the plane, returning from a match against Partizan Belgrade in Yugoslavia. Eight players and three coaches were killed. 

The young team, nicknamed "Busby's Babes," named for manager Matt Busby, was devastated. It took them close to eight years to rediscover the form they had shown in 1958. Never before or since has a team so in the public eye lost so many players in one accident.