Josh Hancock

Josh Hancock
Hancock with the Cardinals in May 2006
Pitcher
Born:April 11, 1978 Cleveland, Mississippi,U.S.
Died:April 29, 2007(2007-04-29)(aged 29) St. Louis, Missouri,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2002, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
April 28, 2007, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	9–7
Earned run average	4.20
Strikeouts	110
Teams
Boston Red Sox(2002) Philadelphia Phillies(2003–2004) Cincinnati Reds(2004–2005) St. Louis Cardinals(2006–2007)
Career highlights and awards
World Serieschampion (2006)

Joshua Morgan Hancock(April 11, 1978 – April 29, 2007) was an Americanprofessional baseballpitcher,who playedMajor League Baseball(MLB) for theBoston Red Sox,Philadelphia Phillies,Cincinnati Reds,andSt. Louis Cardinals.He was killed in an auto accident on April 29, 2007, at the age of 29.

Career

Born inCleveland, Mississippi,Hancock graduated fromVestavia Hills High SchoolinVestavia Hills, Alabama.After high school, he was selected in the fourth round of the1996 Major League Baseball draftby theMilwaukee Brewers,but did not sign. AnAlabamafan, Hancock instead attended college atAuburn UniversityinAuburn, Alabama,because theTigersoffered him a better scholarship. Hancock was selected by theBoston Red Soxin the fifth round (155th overall) of the1998 amateur draftand signed with the Red Sox, making his major-league debut on September 10, 2002. In December 2002 Hancock was traded to thePhiladelphia PhilliesforJeremy Giambi.On July 30, 2004, he was traded along withAndy Machadoto theCincinnati RedsforTodd Jonesand Brad Correll. The next day, Hancock was the winning pitcher for the Reds in a game against theHouston Astros(a suspended game that began the day before while he was still with the Phillies).

On the first day of Spring training 2006, Hancock was released by the Reds for being 17 pounds overweight — thus, violating a clause in his contract. He promptly signed with theSt. Louis Cardinalsand had his best season, pitching 77 innings, compiling a 4.09earned run average(ERA), and appearing in the 2006 postseason with the Cardinals. Hancock performed in a variety of roles for the Cardinals' bullpen, from short term relief appearances to less desirable roles when the game was out of hand.

Hancock was on the Cardinals roster for the2006 World Seriesbut did not pitch.

Before coming to the Cardinals, Hancock had a penchant for giving uphome runs.He gave up 17 homers over 68 innings pitched in 2005. Hancock improved in 2006, giving up only nine over 77 innings. In 2007, he had pitched 8 games with an 0–1 record and a 3.55 ERA.

Death

Shortly after his death, memorials sprang up outsideBusch Stadium.At the above memorial, the staff of a bar owned by former Cardinals pitcherAl Hraboskypaid their respects to Hancock.

On April 29, 2007, Hancock was killed in a motor vehicle accident when the 2007Ford Explorerhe was driving while intoxicated struck the rear of a flat bed tow truck at 12:35 a.m. Central Time. The truck was reportedly in the left lane assisting another vehicle that was involved in a prior accident.

Memorial #32 patch worn by the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2007 season to honor Josh Hancock.

A police report revealed that Hancock was intoxicated at the time of his fatal accident with ablood-alcohol levelof 0.157, nearly double the legal limit inMissouri.Police found 10.95 grams ofmarijuanaand a pipe in his vehicle, althoughtoxicologyreports revealed that there was no marijuana in his system. Hancock wastexting on his cell phonewhen the accident occurred, and was not wearing a seatbelt. An accident reconstruction team determined that Hancock was driving 68 mph (109 km/h) in a 55 mph (89 km/h) zone.

The Cardinals' scheduled game with theChicago Cubslater that day was postponed due to his accident. The game was eventually made up on September 15, a 3-2 Cubs victory.

Hancock's death marked the second time in five years a player for the Cardinals died during the baseball season, the first being of pitcherDarryl Kilein 2002 with a coronary artery blockage. Hancock was the second active MLB player to be killed in an accident in less than a year, after theplane crashof Yankees pitcherCory Lidle.

Three days earlier, his teammates were concerned when they could not reach Hancock after he had overslept and had not shown up for the game on time, likening it to the events leading up to the sudden death of Kile. Hancock did not answer until the "20th call", having thought the start time was later than it actually was. Hancock was expected to be fined by the Cardinals after the incident.

On May 31, 2007, it was reported that Hancock had been involved in another accident involving hisGMC Denalithree nights before his fatal crash involving a rented Ford Explorer. Hancock's final appearance for the team was April 28, 2007, giving up one run in three innings of relief.

Aftermath

The Cardinals wore a special patch on their uniform sleeves with Hancock's number (32) for the duration of the 2007 season to commemorate his life. Although his number is not retired, he is currently honored with his number being displayed above his name in the Cardinals bullpen at Busch Stadium, alongsideDarryl Kile,who died in 2002.

In the wake of Hancock's accident, several teams banned alcohol from their home clubhouses. TheFlorida Marlinshad already implemented this policy several seasons before Hancock's death, saying that they wanted to keep their players from driving home intoxicated after home games. They did not ban alcohol from visiting clubhouses because their opponents would usually ride a team bus after playing away games.In 2006, afterEsteban Loaizawas arrested for drunk driving,Oakland A'sGMBilly Beanebanned alcohol in both clubhouses, saying it was a liability issue. After Hancock died, theBaltimore Oriolesimplemented a similar policy, at least on a temporary basis.

Hancock's family filed a lawsuit on May 24, 2007, againstMike Shannon's restaurant, the tow truck company, tow truck driver, and the driver of the car that the tow truck was stopped to help. On May 31, 2007, the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced results of an investigation revealed no wrongdoing on the part of employees at Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood restaurant in Hancock's death. The lawsuit was dropped on July 30, 2007.

See also

• List of baseball players who died during their careers
• MLB.com tributeArchived2008-06-17 at theWayback Machine
• Sports E-Cyclopedia's Memorium to Josh HancockArchived2007-10-17 at theWayback Machine
• PDF file of Dean Hancock's lawsuit

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
• Josh Hancockat Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
• Josh HancockatFind a Grave