10 athletes who died while playing

10 athletes who died while playing

  Death is something that most people fear because we don't know what happens after we die. Others aren't afraid of dying, but I think it's safe to say that most of us feel bad when we think about what happens next. We don't know when or what will happen, but we know it will definitely come.

  However, let's take a look at a few athletes who were active and alive before they died in the last few decades. All of these people died doing what they loved.  

  10. J.V. Cain

   He was a tight end for six years and put up big stats for the team. On July 22, 1979, Cain participated in the team's training camp to prepare for the new season. Today was also his 28th birthday. During the camp, he was taking a regular pass route and suddenly took a few steps back, collapsed and fell. Cain died of congenital heart failure.  

  9. Howard Glenn

  Howard Glenn was an American footballer for the AFL. He joined the AFL's New York Titans in 1960 as a starting offensive guard. Glenn is the only player to die from injuries sustained during a regular season football game. A few hours later, he died of spinal cord injuries. His number 66 jersey was retired.

  8. Bill Masterton

  Bill Masterton was from Winnipeg, Manitoba and was signed by the Montreal Canadiens in 1961 out of college. He spent most of his years playing in the minor leagues and then left to work for a corporation for a while. In 1967, the North Stars signed him and he became the first player to score a goal for the team. Masterton was checked by two Seals players and immediately felt his head back on the ice. He died a short time later as a result of cerebral hemorrhage. It was so bad that even the doctors could not operate.

  7. Chuck Hughes

  While in college, he set seven different football records. Hughes' 17 interceptions in one game against Arizona State in 1965 is a remarkable record. After college, he was a fourth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles. He played for the Eagles for three years before joining the Detroit Lions in 1970. Hughes was listed as a wide receiver, but many of his plays were made on special teams. In the final minutes of a game against the Chicago Bears, Hughes was suddenly taken down without contact. Players and fans thought he was injured to stop the clock; but Hughes had suffered a fatal heart attack. The game ended in silence.

  6. Ray Chapman

  He stands as the second player to die from injuries sustained during a baseball game. He led the American League in both runs and walks. He was known for his bunting and was an excellent short bowler. On August 17, 1920, the Napps played the Yankees. Yankees pitcher Carl Mays threw the ball and hit Chapman in the head. Fans thought the ball hitting the skull was the sound of him hitting the bat. His death highlighted why players must wear batting helmets and why spitball games are banned.

5. Frank Hayes

  Frank Hayes was a horse jockey. He was 35 years old and had trained horses most of his life. She was chosen by her owner to ride a horse named Sweet Kiss. Hayes would race at Belmont Park in New York. Even though the odds were against him winning, Hayes was still willing to run the race and give it a try. After the race was over and the horse finally stopped, the horse's owner ran onto the field to congratulate Hayes, but he collapsed in the saddle and did not move. Doctors confirmed that Hayes suffered a heart attack during the race. Oddly enough, Frank Hayes is the only jockey to win the race posthumously.

  4. Scott Brayton

  Brayton was a race car driver from Coldwater, Michigan. From 1981 to his death, he was able to participate in 14 Indianapolis 500. In the 1980s, Brighton is famous for introducing the Buick stock-block V-6 to the racing world. He was able to post his best finish at the Speedway in 1989, finishing 6th, but was still seven laps behind. In 1993, he matched the same statistic. When the Indy Racing League was announced in 1996, Brighton was considered a contender for the IRL title. Despite a rough start to the season, he managed to qualify and take his second Indy pole. On May 17, 1996, Brayton suffered a flat tire while practicing on his stock car. His car went into the second turn, spun, hit the side of the wall and eventually came to a stop. Brayton hit the wall at over 230 mph. He died as a result of a strong impact from the wall.

  3. Ed Sanders

  Ed Sanders was a boxer who competed at the junior level, at the professional level, and even in the Olympics. His first Olympic boxing championship was at the 1952 summer games. He easily knocked out his opponent Hans Jost and won his second fight against Giacomo DiSegni. At this point, the only person holding Sanders back from the gold was Ingemar Johansson. After the Olympics, Sanders turned professional and had eight fights in nine months, losing two of them. On December 12, 1954, Sanders was boxing against Willie James. This would be his last fight. In the first ten rounds, two were hit hard. In the 11th round, Sanders looked tired. James hit Sanders with a punch combo, knocking him down. He never regained consciousness and died after doctors tried to stop the bleeding in his brain.

  2. Reggie Lewis

  Reggie Lewis was a basketball player for the Boston Celtics from 1987-1993. In 1992, Lewis was selected to play in the first and only NBA All-Star game in Orlando, Florida. He was able to play well in 15 minutes of the game and scored 7 points. He also grabbed four rebounds. On July 27, 1993, Lewis died suddenly during a Celtics practice game. He suffered a sudden cardiac death and was only 27 years old.

  1. Dale Earnhardt

  Dale Earnhardt was an American race carer known for driving stock cars in the top division of NASCAR. He is most famous for his success in the Winston Cup series. He won 76 races and won seven championships during his career. He is tied with Richard Petty for the most career championship wins by a man. In 1998, Earnhardt scored his first and only Daytona 500 victory. During his career, he took on many different epithets: "The Intimidator", "The Blacksmith" and "The Man in Black". His car skidded off the track onto the apron straight and then spun sharply back into the outside retaining wall. His car was then hit by car number 36 and both cars hit the wall nose first. Earnhardt hit the wall at a critical angle at 150 miles per hour. His car had broken down, but many thought the accident was minor. Earnhardt died from injuries sustained when he crashed into the wall.