Toxicological deaths of major league baseball players

Report: A retrospective review of major league baseball records was conduct ed for players' cause of death. Any death attributed to a toxic exposure wa s analyzed for causal agent, reason for exposure, age at time of death, loc ation, time of year, team, and dominant position played while active. Resul ts: Twenty-eight poisoning deaths were identified between 1889-1995. The mo st common agent was carbon monoxide (8), followed by methane gas asphyxiati on (4), opiate overdose (4), ethanol (3), and phenol (3). Fourteen (50%) we re unintentional deaths, 13 (46%) were suicidal in nature, and 1 (4%) homic idal. The majority of deaths (75%) occurred after the players had retired f rom the game. The leading position was pitcher (13), followed by catcher (5 ), outfield (4), second base (2), first (1), shortstop (1), third (1), and umpire (1). Conclusions: With society's increased illicit drug use, better drug detection, escalating salaries, and increased public pressures placed on present-day players, more poisonings may likely occur.