Oscar Taveras has been killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic

[popcornhog]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/26/cardinals-outfielder-oscar-taveras-dies-in-car-accident/17977685/

I know he wasn't a hog, but wow! Sports are so incredibly unimportant in the scheme of things.

This kid was gonna be one of the greats, too.

[root_hawg]

Such a tragedy

[HF#1]

Life is short.  Never know when your number will be called.  he had so much talent.  His girlfriend was also killed.  Just heartbreaking.

[Dropkick]

So sad

[cosmodrum]

Awful news. Poor kids.

[Oklahawg]

Sad news.

Puts the garbage most on here are beefing about in perspective.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Sad news.

Puts the garbage most on here are beefing about in perspective.

Yep.

[Karma]

Just horrible.

[Hawgey-Davidson]

I just found this post. As a lifelong Cardinals fan, this just shook me to the core. What a promising future this young man had. Hardly got to enjoy him. Loss of life is terrible and always inevitable. Prayers to the familys of Oscar and his girlfriend and Cardinals nation.

[AugustaHog]

So very sad... 22 yrs old with an amazing future in front of him.  Prayers to their families.  Tough day for Cardinal Nation. 

[mizzouman]

Been following the Cards since forever. SAD day for all Cards fans yet can't imagine what his family is going through. Heard his girlfriend died as well.

[john]

Love my Cards almost as much as my Razorbacks. Hate this feeling . I got 4 & 6 yr old boys. Oldest loves Jon Jay. 4 yr old would often say when pitching whiffle balls to him " I'm Oscar". Sad

[The Hogfather]

Makes me sick!

[Inhogswetrust]

Condolences to both his and his girlfriends families.

[popcornhog]

Love my Cards almost as much as my Razorbacks. Hate this feeling . I got 4 & 6 yr old boys. Oldest loves Jon Jay. 4 yr old would often say when pitching whiffle balls to him " I'm Oscar". Sad

So sad. Just a kid and no doubt a future great.

[Iwastherein1969]

not a huge surprise considering the roadway system in the Dominican Republic....its as safe as a mating ball of water moccains....sad....only the good die young...RIP, O.T.

[ghostzapper]

Terrible.  Maybe the only mlb player who can say his last ab in playoffs was a homer.  If Cardinals had won NLCS.....

[clutch]

not a huge surprise considering the roadway system in the Dominican Republic....its as safe as a mating ball of water moccains....sad....only the good die young...RIP, O.T.

That's no joke. There is some crazy driving down there for sure. Sounds like he just lost control in this case though. Apparently on a highway between 2 beach towns and ran off the road in his camero. Sad, sad situation.

[popcornhog]

Terrible.  Maybe the only mlb player who can say his last ab in playoffs was a homer.  If Cardinals had won NLCS.....

We were just talking about that. If Yadi and Waino had been healthy and the Cardinals had won the NLCS, Oscar would have most likely been in Saint Louis tonight and still alive.

[clutch]

We were just talking about that. If Yadi and Waino had been healthy and the Cardinals had won the NLCS, Oscar would have most likely been in Saint Louis tonight and still alive.

Had the same conversation with my friend earlier.

[GolfNut57]

We were just talking about that. If Yadi and Waino had been healthy and the Cardinals had won the NLCS, Oscar would have most likely been in Saint Louis tonight and still alive.

Impossible to know. When its your time to go you go. No matter where you're at.

[ghostzapper]

Impossible to know. When its your time to go you go. No matter where you're at.

We know he wouldn't have been killed in DR if they were in WS.

[Hogarusa]

Terrible.  Maybe the only mlb player who can say his last ab in playoffs was a homer.  If Cardinals had won NLCS.....

Would be great but i dont believe his last AB was a homer. Many people will have the same thought about if only the Cards could have won.  Sad story.  RIP

[ghostzapper]

you are correct.  i am wrong.  He batted twice after his pinch hit homer in the NLCS.  My mistake.

[hogcard1964]

Sad

I'm a huge Cardinal fan.

Kile, Hitchcock and now Oscar.

RIP

[popcornhog]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/juan-perez-delivers-key-hit-after-learning-his-good-friend-oscar-taveras-died-074707879.html

Apparently Juan Perez was a good friend of his. It sounds like he broke down last night during game 5 of the World Series.

SAN FRANCISCO – Juan Perez didn't believe it, didn't believe his friend was dead, so he ran back to the San Francisco Giants clubhouse and swiped his phone on. He saw the text messages, at least 20, more coming in, all with the horrible news that Oscar Taveras, fellow ballplayer, fellow Dominican, was gone. Then he saw a text with the picture that confirmed it: Taveras at the morgue, on a table, blood everywhere, a horrible image Perez couldn't shake.

He started to cry. Giants closer Santiago Casilla told Perez to shut his phone off, to stop looking at the photo. And Joaquin Arias implored him: "Stay strong. Stay strong." The Giants might need him. And Gregor Blanco said: "I know it's not easy. Let's just try to do it."

[DeltaBoy]

Sad news for Cards Fans.

[010HogFan]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/juan-perez-delivers-key-hit-after-learning-his-good-friend-oscar-taveras-died-074707879.html

Apparently Juan Perez was a good friend of his. It sounds like he broke down last night during game 5 of the World Series.

SAN FRANCISCO – Juan Perez didn't believe it, didn't believe his friend was dead, so he ran back to the San Francisco Giants clubhouse and swiped his phone on. He saw the text messages, at least 20, more coming in, all with the horrible news that Oscar Taveras, fellow ballplayer, fellow Dominican, was gone. Then he saw a text with the picture that confirmed it: Taveras at the morgue, on a table, blood everywhere, a horrible image Perez couldn't shake.

He started to cry. Giants closer Santiago Casilla told Perez to shut his phone off, to stop looking at the photo. And Joaquin Arias implored him: "Stay strong. Stay strong." The Giants might need him. And Gregor Blanco said: "I know it's not easy. Let's just try to do it."

why in the world would someone send him that?

[clutch]

why in the world would someone send him that?

I was about to ask that same question. That's pretty messed up.

[jswineberiaskirk]

Saw this on the crawl during Mike and Mike this AM. RIP

[skinnypig]

Sad

I'm a huge Cardinal fan.

Kile, Hitchcock and now Oscar.

RIP

Josh Hancock*

[The_Iceman]

[pigture perfect]

I was driving from Ft. Smith to Benton last night, listening to the WS. I was so shocked the next thing I remember of the game was the 3 run rally of the giants in the 8th. Just hate it. I feel so bad for his family and that of his girlfriend.

[VictoryRedChevy]

Another lifelong Cardinal fan.

This took my breath away.

Pretty much lost a family member.

[code red]

So sad.  Taveras pitched a ball to my daughter in between innings this year in the Summer home stand with the Brewers.  He was her favorite Cardinal after that.  She was in tears.  Prayers for his family and her family and Cardinals nation.

[pigture perfect]

Love that story Code Red.

[popcornhog]

So sad.  Taveras pitched a ball to my daughter in between innings this year in the Summer home stand with the Brewers.  He was her favorite Cardinal after that.  She was in tears.  Prayers for his family and her family and Cardinals nation.

That's awesome. I think she should get an Oscar Taveras jersey for Christmas. I know I'll be wearing mine to every game that I'm able to make at Busch stadium next year.

[mizzouman]

We know he wouldn't have been killed in DR if they were in WS.

Don't know.  Same thing could have happened AFTER the WS.  You just don't know.

[pigture perfect]

We can know 1 thing. It is appointed that man will die. Anything else is a matter of time and place. He could have died following the post game celebration of the NLCS. At least he died near his family and they have some memories from his last few days.

[code red]

That's awesome. I think she should get an Oscar Taveras jersey for Christmas. I know I'll be wearing mine to every game that I'm able to make at Busch stadium next year.

Yep..good idea....Not to make this about sports or competition but...he had completely revamped his swing and was reaping these benefits in the NLCS.  Again not about the team and or sports at this point but....he was a up and comer and hard worker.  22 wow.

[Hogtropolis™]

Sad

I'm a huge Cardinal fan.

Kile, Hancock and now Oscar.

RIP

Very sad news. I'm still in disbelief. Hate hearing when people with their whole lives ahead of them have a tragic accident like this. This is just one of those times you have to trust in God and know He has a greater purpose for everyone than we can even begin to imagine.

On a side note, was Matheny on the team when Kile and Hancock passed away. Just trying to remember. As hard of a situation this is, that should be helpful experience in helping the current team cope with this. I don't envy his position at all right now.

[hogcard1964]

Josh Hancock*

Correct....sorry

[popcornhog]

Yep..good idea....Not to make this about sports or competition but...he had completely revamped his swing and was reaping these benefits in the NLCS.  Again not about the team and or sports at this point but....he was a up and comer and hard worker.  22 wow.

Exactly. First and foremost it's about a young kid who tragically lost his life.

Although waaaaaay less important, the kid was going to be a very good baseball player.

[hoglady]

Sad news for baseball.
So young and his girlfriend was only 18.
Prayers for the families of both of them.

[popcornhog]

"I was asked last night to give some words regarding the tragic death of Oscar Taveras, but I just simply couldn't.
"First of all, it felt like a bad dream that could not be real, and when reality kicked in, my words didn't even seem to make sense. To say this is a horrible loss of a life ended too soon would be an understatement. To talk about the potential of his abilities seemed to be untimely. All I wanted to do was get the guys together and be with our baseball family. I know the hurt that comes along with buying into the brotherhood of a baseball team. That hurt is just as powerful as the joys that come with this life. Not to say it is even close to the depth of pain his true family is going through, but the pain itself is just as real. The ache is deep because the relationships were deep, and forged through time and trials.
"To the many fans who have already reached out with condolences, and to the many more who are in mourning, thank you for taking these players in, like they are one of your own. This level of care is what sets our fans apart.
"In my opinion, the word 'love' is the most misused, and misunderstood word in the English language. It is not popular for men to use this word, and even less popular for athletes. But, there is not a more accurate word for how a group of men share a deep and genuine concern for each other. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. That is what a team does, that is what a family does. You will be missed, Oscar."

Mike Matheny

[N HOG]

"I was asked last night to give some words regarding the tragic death of Oscar Taveras, but I just simply couldn't.
"First of all, it felt like a bad dream that could not be real, and when reality kicked in, my words didn't even seem to make sense. To say this is a horrible loss of a life ended too soon would be an understatement. To talk about the potential of his abilities seemed to be untimely. All I wanted to do was get the guys together and be with our baseball family. I know the hurt that comes along with buying into the brotherhood of a baseball team. That hurt is just as powerful as the joys that come with this life. Not to say it is even close to the depth of pain his true family is going through, but the pain itself is just as real. The ache is deep because the relationships were deep, and forged through time and trials.
"To the many fans who have already reached out with condolences, and to the many more who are in mourning, thank you for taking these players in, like they are one of your own. This level of care is what sets our fans apart.
"In my opinion, the word 'love' is the most misused, and misunderstood word in the English language. It is not popular for men to use this word, and even less popular for athletes. But, there is not a more accurate word for how a group of men share a deep and genuine concern for each other. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. That is what a team does, that is what a family does. You will be missed, Oscar."

Mike Matheny

Those are powerful and eloquent words.

Mike Matheny is a great leader and impressive human being.