The excitement of tonight’s All-Star Game in Anaheim has been somewhat silenced with the passings of Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard and today’s announcement of the death of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
Even with the Mid-Summer Classic happening across the country, the baseball world sympathizes with the New York Yankees.
However, the city of Los Angeles, mainly the Angels organization, still has a heavy heart and a fresh wound from the loss of pitcher Nick Adenhart last season.
Adenhart died in a tragic car crash on April 9th of last year, just hours after pitching in a game for the Angels. Adenhart was only 22 years old.
This is not to say that Sheppard and Steinbrenner’s deaths should go unnoticed or unhonored, but Adenhart was an actual player that died tragically. While some have compared Steinbrenner’s death to Thurman Munson’s death in 1979, it is Adenhart’s death that parallels that tragedy more.
Not to be cruel, but Sheppard and Steinbrenner were 99 and 80, respectively. Their losses were certainly more expected than a 22-year old pitcher.
All I can hope is that Adenhart gets his moment during the festivities at tonight’s All-Star Game. Adenhart was a young pitcher with the potential of pitching in this game one day. It would only be fitting to honor him at his home park, much like the Angels have constantly done.
“The Voice of God” will still announce Derek Jeter coming to the plate and I’m sure plans are still being put together for “The Boss”, but, please, Major League Baseball, don’t forget about the “Fallen Angel”, Nick Adenhart.
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