More than 80 active and former baseball players have committed suicide since 1900, with former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan the latest and probably the best-known (“Flanagan death ruled suicide by medical examiner,” Web, Aug. 25).
They do it for a variety of reasons: financial problems, marital troubles, health reasons (including depression and substance abuse), legal issues and poor performance - either by the player himself or the team as a whole.
The tragedy of such suicides is that it doesn’t just affect the player himself, but his team, family, friends, relatives and fans.
Flanagan left behind a wife and three daughters, which is particularly heart-wrenching, as they will have to live with this for the rest of their lives.
KENNETH L. ZIMMERMAN
Huntington Beach, Calif.
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