For the second time in a week, the Saint Louis Cardinals' baseball team has suffered a tragedy. This time star pitcher Darryl Kile was found dead in his hotel room. He was 33.
The cause of his death is not known, but team manager Tony LaRussa said early reports were that Kile died in his sleep. Kile's father died at the age of 44 due to a blood clot in his brain. The Cardinals cancelled Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
A 20-game winner two years ago, Kile was scheduled to pitch in Sunday's game against the Cubs. A three-time All-Star, Kile had five wins and four losses with an earned run average of three-point-seven-two this season.
Kile's death came four days after Hall of Fame Cardinals' broadcaster Jack Buck died after a long battle with cancer and Parkinson's disease. This is the first death of an active Major League player since San Diego Padres outfielder Mike Darr was killed in a one-car crash before spring training in February.