Baseball Never Forgets

I never met Greg Halman.  I'm not sure he ever played in a ball game that I saw in person.  But he played for my Seattle Mariners.  I rooted for him.  I wanted him to succeed.  I remember watching him on television, noting that he had a lot of tattoos.  I also remember that he started off this season on fire and thinking that he looked the most promising of the M's young outfielders.  Very sad what happened to him.  Glad that he got to realize the dream of playing in the major leagues, though.

Halman is the first Mariner player to pass while an active member of the team.  Fortunately most of the Mariners alumni are still with us.  I remember many of those who are not and, like Halman, I remember rooting for them and wanting each of them to succeed.  How many do you remember?

• Greg Halman, OF 2010-11 (44 games), d. 11/21/2011 (age 24), homicide
• John Marzano, C 1996-98 (130 games), d. 4/19/2008 (age 45), fall related
• Russ Swan, P 1990-93 (152 games), d. 4/26/2006 (age 42), fall related
• Rod Scurry, P 1988 (39 games), d. 11/5/1992 (age 36), drug related
• Ivan Calderon, OF 1984-85 (115 games), d. 12/27/2003 (age 41), homicide
• Al Cowens, OF 1982-86 (545 games), d. 3/11/2002 (age 50), heart failure
• Todd Cruz, IF 1982-83 (201 games), d. 9/2/2008 (age 52), drowning
• Dave Roberts, P 1980 (37 games), d. 1/9/2009 (age 64), cancer
• Rick Anderson, P 1980 (5 games), d. 10/5/1989 (age 35), heart failure
• Joe Decker, P 1979 (9 games), d. 3/2/2003 (age 55), fall related
• Wayne Twitchell, P 1979 (4 games), d. 9/16/2010 (age 62), cancer
• Larry Cox, C 1977, 79-80 (240 games), d. 2/17/1990 (age 42), heart failure
• Joe Lis, IF 1977 (9 games), d. 10/17/2010 (age 62), cancer

Although the above list is a bit morbid curiosity it shows that, even when it comes to death, baseball keeps records better than anyone.  Baseball never forgets... and neither will I.