Hideki Irabu and 5 Baseball Players Who Passed Before Their Time

Former Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead in his Los Angeles area home on Thursday at the age of 42. He joined the Yankees in 1997 from the Japanese league Lotte Orions via the San Diego Padres. After pitching only eight games in the Yankees' minor league system, he was thrust into the rotation. His major league career never really panned out, and he retired in 2003 with a 34-35 record and a 5.03 ERA.

Irabu joins the list of a number of baseball players who passed before their time.

Nick Adenhart

Adenhart was a 22 year-old Angels prospect who played in only two major league games in his career. His second career game was against the Oakland A’s on April 8. He pitched well, getting a no-decision and allowing no runs with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Just a few hours after the game, Adenhart and three friends were struck by a drunk driver. Adenhart and two friends died as a result.

Cory Lidle

Lidle’s career spanned 10 years and seven teams. He compiled an 82-72 record with a 4.57 ERA and 838 strikeouts. Shortly after his 2006 season ended with the New York Yankees, Lidle and his co-pilot were killed in a plane crash. It happened on October 11 2006, as their Cirrus SR20 plane crashed into the Belaire apartments complex on the upper east side of Manhattan. Lidle was 34.

Darryl Kile

Kile was a major league pitcher who pitched for the Astros, Rockies and Cardinals in his career. He was a three time All-Star and threw a no-hitter in 1993. Kile was a member of the Cardinals in 2002 when he passed away in his hotel room before a game against the Chicago Cubs. It was later revealed he died due to a heart attack. Kile was 33.

Thurman Munson

The Yankees Munson was a seven time All-Star and 1976 AL MVP winner. He played all 11 seasons of his career on the Yankees and had a career average of .292. He hit 113 home runs and knocked in 701 runs. His life was cut short in 1979 after crashing his plane during practice landings in Canton, Ohio. Munson was 32.

Roberto Clemente

Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente was a 15-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner and NL MVP in 1966. His career average was .317, and he had 3,000 hits, 240 home runs and 1,305 RBI.

Besides his stunning on field play, was his off field charity. Clemente was a noted humanitarian, and after the capital of Nicaragua was damaged by an earthquake, he arranged some relief flights. The plane Clemente was traveling on crashed after takeoff and claimed his life.