TOP TEN...Careers Cut Short by Injury/Death
These players were all extremely talented athletes, until tragedy struck. For some, injuries took the game away, for others, it took their lives. There are many athletes who had to retire due to injuries, but these athletes were at their prime when they were forced to leave the game. Here are the top ten athletes who could have accomplished so much more, but fate got the best of them.
10) Grant Hill – An All-American at Duke, where he played in three national championship games, winning two, Grant Hill was as book-smart as he was basketball-smart. Hill needed no agents; he negotiated his own contract. After being drafted number three overall by the Detroit Pistons, Hill averaged 19.9ppg, 6.4rpg, and 5.0apg his rookie year and won the co-ROY award with Jason Kidd. Not only that, he was the first rookie to lead all players in the All-Star ballot. For the next five seasons, Hill dominated the NBA averaging at least 20.2ppg, 6.6rpg, and 5.2apg in every season. Hill had 29 career triple-doubles in his first five years, one more than what Michael Jordan had in his entire career at the time.
But on April 28, 2000, Hill’s career took a turn for the worst. Hill underwent surgery on his left ankle to repair his medial malleolus. In the off-season, Hill would test the free agency market and signed a 7 year, $93 million sign-and-trade deal with the Pistons that sent him to the Orlando Magic. However, after once again injuring his left ankle, Hill had further operation on his ankle and sat out all but four of the Magic’s 2000-2001 season. The next season, Hill only played in 16 games as he was once again placed on the IR to remove bone spurs from his aching left ankle. In three seasons with the Magic, Grant Hill played in only 47 out of a possible 246 games due to injury. Once again this season, Hill began the year on the injury reserve list.
Arguably one of the most versatile, most complete, most popular players of the late 1990s, Grant Hill had a sure Hall-of-Fame career. His combination of scoring, passing, and rebounding skills hasn’t been seen in the league since the departure of Magic Johnson. Unfortunately, Hill’s left ankle might never allow him to be the player he once was.
Grant Hill’s career statistics:
YR TM G FG% FT% STL BLK TO REB AST PTS
94-95 Det 70 .477 .732 124 62 202 6.4 5.0 19.9
95-96 Det 80 .462 .751 100 48 263 9.8 6.8 20.2
96-97 Det 80 .496 .711 144 48 259 9.0 7.3 21.4
97-98 Det 81 .452 .740 143 53 285 7.6 6.8 21.1
98-99 Det 50 .479 .752 80 27 184 7.1 6.0 21.1
99-00 Det 74 .489 .795 103 43 240 6.6 5.2 25.8
00-01 Orl 4 .442 .615 5 2 11 6.3 6.3 13.8
01-02 Orl 14 .426 .863 8 4 37 9.0 4.6 16.8
02-03 Orl 29 .492 .819 28 13 84 7.1 4.2 14.5
9) Len Bias – Coming out of Maryland as the next great player to hang his jersey next to the 19 retired jerseys and 16 world championship banners hanging on the Boston Garden ceiling, Len Bias was on his way.
Len Bias is dead. After using cocaine, 22 year old Bias died of cardiorespiratory failure on June 19, 1986. According to friends, Bias was celebrating after being picked 2nd overall in the NBA draft. The death shocked the nation and the Celtics.
I’m only four years old at the time of Bias’ death and was probably still doing algebra in China, but for a better perspective on Len Bias’ death, please read this article written by Bill Simmons of ESPN’s Page 2. Simmons is a Boston Celtic fan who was traumatized by Bias’ death.
Bill Simmons on Len Bias
8) Drazen Petrovic - While Petrovic only played in four NBA seasons, few ever realized his legendary status in European basketball history. Petrovic was just starting to demonstrate his abilities in the NBA when a car crash took his life in Germany. Petrovic once scored 112 points in a game in Europe in 1984 where he won numerous league championships and player of the year honors. Drafted in the third round of the 1986 NBA draft, Petrovic started finding his niche after being traded to the New Jersey Nets. In his final season with the Nets, Petrovic averaged 22.3 ppg and shot .447 from downtown.
Draaen Petrovic’s career statistics:
Year Team G FGP FTP 3PM 3PA 3PP RPG APG STL BLK TO PPG
89-90 POR 77 .485 .844 34 74 .459 1.4 1.5 23 2 96 7.6
90-91 NJN 61 .493 .832 23 65 .354 1.8 1.4 43 1 81 10.2
91-92 NJN 82 .508 .808 123 277 .444 3.1 3.1 105 11 215 20.6
92-93 NJN 70 .518 .870 75 167 .449 2.7 3.5 94 13 204 22.3
7) Terrell Davis – Simply know as TD, Terrell Davis helped John Elway to two Superbowl rings. Coming out of Georgia as a lowly 6th round pick, Davis rushed for over 1000 yards in his rookie season. But what is more impressive is that Davis improved his rushing total by 421 yards, 212 yards, and 258 yards for the next three seasons respectively! In those three years, he had a whopping 369 carries each year, 49 touchdowns, one 2000-yard season, one league MVP, one Superbowl MVP, and most important of all, two Superbowl Championships.
In the fourth game of the 1999 season, Davis would suffer a torn ACL, which would ultimately force his early retirement in 2002. His short but spectacular career is already starting arguments amongst sportswriters on whether he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame despite only four good seasons.
Terrell Davis’ career statistics:
Year G Att Yds Y/A TD
1995 14 237 1117 4.7 7
1996 16 345 1538 4.5 13
1997 15 369 1750 4.7 15
1998 16 392 2008 5.1 21
1999 4 67 211 3.1 2
2000 5 78 282 3.6 2
2001 11 167 701 4.2 0
6) Reggie Lewis – As if the Boston fans could ever heal from Len Bias’ death, the death of Reggie Lewis sent Boston into complete disbelieve as Lewis collapses on the court in 1993 and died three months later. Lewis first encountered his health problem in a playoff game in April of 1993. Later in July, he was alone, shooting basketball in a gym when he fell again and died playing the game he loved so much.
Rumors soon emerged that Lewis’ death was linked to cocaine use, the same thing that killed Len Bias just seven years ago (on a lighter note: Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics was stabbed in the face seven years later in 2000, but wasn’t seriously injured. It must be a new Celtic curse to go with that Red Sox curse). In the end, it was found that Lewis died of a cardiomyopathic heart attack due to a lack of selenium, a nutrient found in almost all food groups. Lewis’ family has also had a history of heart problems. Lewis’ mother, who was a cocaine addict might have contributed to Lewis’ death.
Reggie Lewis’ career statistics:
YR TM G FG% FT% STL BLK TO REB AST PTS
87-88 Bos 49 .466 .702 16 15 30 1.3 0.5 4.5
88-89 Bos 81 .486 .787 124 72 142 4.7 2.7 18.5
89-90 Bos 79 .496 .808 88 63 120 4.4 2.8 17.0
90-91 Bos 79 .491 .826 98 85 147 5.2 2.5 18.7
91-92 Bos 82 .503 .851 125 105 136 4.8 2.3 20.8
92-93 Bos 80 .470 .867 118 77 133 4.3 3.7 20.8
5) Lou Gehrig – Compared to the other players on this list, you can hardly say that this is a career “shortened”, but nevertheless, in his last season, Gehrig hit .295, 29 hrs, and had 114 RBI at the age of 35. In baseball years for a non-pitcher and non-catcher, that’s like 29 years old. Gehrig’s battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disease without a cure that weakens the muscles and ultimately resulting in paralysis, was well documented and ultimately had the diseased named Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Although I never saw Gehrig play, I consider the clip where Gehrig addressed the Yankee crowd in his final season as one of the most touching moments in sports. When Gehrig said “…today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” you can tell what a humble, genuine guy he is, and that’s what made me feel extremely sad about Gehrig’s bad break. In today’s age of cliché sports speeches, Gehrig’s speech was elegant, personal, meaningful, and most of all touching.
Lou Gehrig died on June 2, 1941.
Lou Gehrig’s Farewell speech on July 4, 1939:
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day?
Sure I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure I'm lucky.
When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that¹s the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for." -- Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig’s career statistics:
YEAR TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA
1923 NYY 13 26 6 11 4 1 1 9 2 5 0 .423
1924 NYY 10 12 2 6 1 0 0 5 1 3 0 .500
1925 NYY 126 437 73 129 23 10 20 68 46 49 6 .295
1926 NYY 155 572 135 179 47 20 16 112 105 73 6 .313
1927 NYY 155 584 149 218 52 18 47 175 109 84 10 .373
1928 NYY 154 562 139 210 47 13 27 142 95 69 4 .374
1929 NYY 154 553 127 166 32 10 35 126 122 68 4 .300
1930 NYY 154 581 143 220 42 17 41 174 101 63 12 .379
1931 NYY 155 619 163 211 31 15 46 184 117 56 17 .341
1932 NYY 156 596 138 208 42 9 34 151 108 38 4 .349
1933 NYY 152 593 138 198 41 12 32 139 92 42 9 .334
1934 NYY 154 579 128 210 40 6 49 165 109 31 9 .363
1935 NYY 149 535 125 176 26 10 30 119 132 38 8 .329
1936 NYY 155 579 167 205 37 7 49 152 130 46 3 .354
1937 NYY 157 569 138 200 37 9 37 159 127 49 4 .351
1938 NYY 157 576 115 170 32 6 29 114 107 75 6 .295
1939 NYY 8 28 2 4 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 .143
4) Ken Griffey Jr. – Nobody was more popular than Griffey in the 90s. Second only to Michael Jordan in the sports world, Griffey’s spectacular play in the field and at the plate inspired millions of fans in America. He achieved icon status in the Northwest playing for the Seattle Mariners, but in 2000, signed with his hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds. Ever since, Griffey Jr.’s professional career has been tormented by a series of leg injuries that would have him play in only 123 out of 324 games in 2002 and 2003. In the past two seasons, Griffey would sustain an injury just when he’s heating up. The frustration has stymied a career that had the potential to break Hank Aaron’s 755 career homeruns. Although I wouldn’t think Griffey’s career is over, I would say his prime was already past him.
Ken Griffey Jr.’s career statistics:
YEAR TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA
1989 SEA 127 455 61 120 23 0 16 61 44 83 16 .264
1990 SEA 155 597 91 179 28 7 22 80 63 81 16 .300
1991 SEA 154 548 76 179 42 1 22 100 71 82 18 .327
1992 SEA 142 565 83 174 39 4 27 103 44 67 10 .308
1993 SEA 156 582 113 180 38 3 45 109 96 91 17 .309
1994 SEA 111 433 94 140 24 4 40 90 56 73 11 .323
1995 SEA 72 260 52 67 7 0 17 42 52 53 4 .258
1996 SEA 140 545 125 165 26 2 49 140 78 104 16 .303
1997 SEA 157 608 125 185 34 3 56 147 76 121 15 .304
1998 SEA 161 633 120 180 33 3 56 146 76 121 20 .284
1999 SEA 160 606 123 173 26 3 48 134 91 108 24 .285
2000 CIN 145 520 100 141 22 3 40 118 94 117 6 .271
2001 CIN 111 364 57 104 20 2 22 65 44 72 2 .286
2002 CIN 70 197 17 52 8 0 8 23 28 39 1 .264
2003 CIN 53 166 34 41 12 1 13 26 27 44 1 .247
3) Gayle Sayers - Drafted out of Kansas in 1965 with the fourth overall pick in the draft by the Chicago Bears (Bears also had the third pick, Dick Butkus, and sixth pick, Steve DeLong), Sayers bursted onto the scene his rookie year by accounting for 24 touchdowns by rushing, receiving, passing, and returning the ball. His amazing rookie season was capped by a six-touchdown performance against the 49ers on a muddy field in December. In the game, Sayers amassed 336 total yards as coach George Halas called it the greatest performance he has seen on the football field.
Sayers’ quick feet has defenses baffled for the first five years of his career; however, a right knee injury in 1968 followed by a left knee injury in 1970 forced his early retirement. Despite only playing for four and a half seasons in the NFL, Sayers was a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer in 1977.
Gale Sayers’ career statistics:
Year TM G Att YDS Y/A TD Rec Yards Y/R TD
1965 CHI 14 166 867 5.2 14 29 507 17.5 6
1966 CHI 14 229 1231 5.4 8 34 447 13.1 2
1967 CHI 13 186 880 4.7 7 16 126 7.9 1
1968 CHI 9 138 856 6.2 2 15 117 7.8 0
1969 CHI 14 236 1032 4.4 8 17 116 6.8 0
1970 CHI 2 23 52 2.3 0 1 -6 -6.0 0
1971 CHI 2 13 38 2.9 0 0 0 0.0 0
2) Sandy Koufax - Koufax was one of the most dominating pitchers and one of my favorite athletes of all time. He was the first pitcher to consistently strikeout 300 per season. However, it’s his powerful strikeouts that ultimately bogged down his left elbow.
For the first seven years of a twelve year career, Koufax struggled to achieve success despite a blistering fastball. Going into his eighth season in 1962, catcher Norm Sherry advised Koufax to take a little off of the fastball to gain more control. Sherry’s words seemed to hit the spot as Koufax enjoyed arguably the best four year stretch for a pitcher from 1963-1966. Despite winning the Cy Young Award and pitching a perfect game in 1966, Sandy Koufax retired at the tender age of 31 due to an arthritic pitching elbow. He later became the youngest player to be ever elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1971.
In Koufax’s final season, he had career bests of 27 wins, 27 complete games, and a 1.73 ERA. When he retired, Koufax held the single game strikeout record of 18, single season strikeout record of 382, won three Cy Young Awards, one MVP Award, two World Series MVPs, and pitched three no-hitters and a perfect game.
Sandy Koufax’s career statistics:
YEAR TEAM G GS CG SHO IP H ER BB SO W L SV ERA
1955 BRO 12 5 2 2 41.2 33 14 28 30 2 2 0 3.02
1956 BRO 16 10 0 0 58.2 66 32 29 30 2 4 0 4.91
1957 BRO 34 13 2 0 104.1 83 45 51 122 5 4 0 3.88
1958 LA 40 26 5 0 158.2 132 79 105 131 11 11 1 4.48
1959 LA 35 23 6 1 153.1 136 69 92 173 8 6 2 4.05
1960 LA 37 26 7 2 175.0 133 76 100 197 8 13 1 3.91
1961 LA 42 35 15 2 255.2 212 100 96 269 18 13 1 3.52
1962 LA 28 26 11 2 184.1 134 52 57 216 14 7 1 2.54
1963 LA 40 40 20 11 311.0 214 65 58 306 25 5 0 1.88
1964 LA 29 28 15 7 223.0 154 43 53 223 19 5 1 1.74
1965 LA 43 41 27 8 335.2 216 76 71 382 26 8 2 2.04
1966 LA 41 41 27 5 323.0 241 62 77 317 27 9 0 1.73
1) Bo Jackson - The greatest athlete who ever lived, the most intimidating name to go with the most intimidating game, and a catch phrase “Bo knows where to go”. Bo Jackson had it all in his young career with the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Royals. In football, he is a punishing back with the speed of a European sports car. In baseball, he has the rare combination of power and speed.
In 1989, Jackson clubbed 32 homeruns, 105 RBI, and swiped 26 bases for the Kansas City Royals. On the gridiron, he had 950 yards rushing on 173 rushes and 4 touchdowns. Bo Jackson was elected 1989 All-Star Game MVP in baseball, and he made the Pro-Bowl in 1990, his last season in football.
The devastating moment occurred in the playoff game on January 13, 1991 against the Cincinnati Bengals when Jackson was tackled from the left side on an ordinary play. But the innocent tackle would result in avascular necrosis which led to the deterioration of his left hip joint. Bo Jackson never played another down and was never the same on the baseball diamond.
Bo Jackson’s baseball statistics:
YEAR TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA
1986 KC 25 82 9 17 2 1 2 9 7 34 3 .207
1987 KC 116 396 46 93 17 2 22 53 30 158 10 .235
1988 KC 124 439 63 108 16 4 25 68 25 146 27 .246
1989 KC 135 515 86 132 15 6 32 105 39 172 26 .256
1990 KC 111 405 74 110 16 1 28 78 44 128 15 .272
1991 CHI 23 71 8 16 4 0 3 14 12 25 0 .225
1993 CHI 85 284 32 66 9 0 16 45 23 106 0 .232
1994 CAL 75 201 23 56 7 0 13 43 20 72 1 .279
Bo Jackson’s football statistics:
Year TM G ATT YDS Y/A TD Rec YDS Y/R TD
1987 RAI 7 81 554 6.8 4 16 136 8.5 2
1988 RAI 10 136 580 4.3 3 9 79 8.8 0
1989 RAI 11 173 950 5.5 4 9 69 7.7 0
1990 RAI 10 125 698 5.6 5 6 68 11.3 0