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Steve Bechler |
Born: November
18, 1979 |
Died: February
17, 2003 |
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Steve was a non-carded prospect
heading into the 2003 season. He died of heat-stroke after a
spring training workout in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In tribute,
Bechler was selected by the Tampa Cherokees as the final pick of the
2003 player draft. |
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Rod Beck |
Born: August 3,
1968 |
Died: June 23,
2007 |
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Scooter was drafted by the
Vermont Grizzlies in 1999. He played a big role in the
Grizzlies' bullpen through the 2002 season. Beck died of
natural causes in the Phoenix home. |
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John Cerutti |
Born: April 28,
1960 |
Died: October 3,
2004 |
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John pitched for the Québec Aces
from 1988 to 1991. He was a starter and worked out of the
bullpen in his four year ABL career. Cerutti died of natural
causes in a hotel room in Toronto at the age of 44. |
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Al Cowens |
Born: October
25, 1951 |
Died: March 11,
2002 |
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Al was a charter member of the
Alabama Rebels. During his tenure with Alabama, he served
as the fourth outfielder. He often played defense in late
innings. Al was found dead of an apparent heart attack at the
age of 50. |
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Bo Diaz |
Born: May 23,
1953 |
Died: November
23, 1990 |
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Bo, a charter member of the
Québec Aces, was electrocuted while installing a satellite dish at
home in Venezuela. He served as a reserve catcher for the Aces
in 1982 and 1983 before gaining the starting job with the Charleston
Cherokees in 1984. His ABL career concluded in 1987 with the
Cherokees. |
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Cory Lidle |
Born: March 22,
1972 |
Died: October
11, 2006 |
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Cory died in an airplane
accident in New York City when a plane he was piloting crashed into
a 50-story building in Manhattan. Lidle made 5 starts for Key
West and Cape Canaveral in 2006, and 9 starts for the JayHawks in
2007. |
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Aurelio Lopez |
Born: October 5,
1948 |
Died: September
22, 1992 |
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Señior Smoke, whose relief
pitching helped the Atlanta Atoms win its first League Championship in
1985, was killed in an automobile accident on a highway about 300
miles north of México City. He broke into the ABL in 1983 and
spent his entire 4 year career with the Atoms. |
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Dernell Stenson |
Born: June 17,
1978 |
Died: November
5, 2003 |
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Dernell Stenson was the first
non-carded player picked by the Key West JayHawks in 2000. He
remained on the JayHawks' development roster through the 2001 season.
Stenson was reportedly was shot before being run over by his own SUV,
which was stolen. He had been playing in the Arizona Fall League. |
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Steve Olin |
Born: October 4,
1965 |
Died: March 22,
1993 |
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Steve, who was on his way to
becoming a premiere closer, was killed in a boating accident in Winter
Haven, Florida. He was drafted by the Charleston Cherokees in
1990 and spent his entire ABL career with the Cherokees. |
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Rod Scurry |
Born: March 17,
1956 |
Died: November
5, 1992 |
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Rod, whose promising career as a
relief pitcher was cut short by a drug problem, died one week after a
scuffle with Reno, Nevada sheriff's deputies had left him unconscious.
He served as a middle reliever in 1987 and 1988 with the Atlanta
Atoms. |
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Alan Wiggins |
Born: February
17, 1958 |
Died: January 6,
1991 |
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Alan's ABL career was cut short
by a drug overdose at his home in San Diego, California. He
served as a reserve thirdbasemen for the Atlanta Atoms in 1985. |
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