Relief pitcher Josh Hancock was a key member of the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen. (Canadian Press)

Tragedy struck the baseball world again on April 29, 2007.

Early that morning, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident in St. Louis

The 29 year-old joined the Cardinals in February of 2006. He quickly became a valuable member of the bullpen, helping St. Louis to its 10th World Series title last season.

Hancock is the third pitcher in recent years to pass away while his career was in bloom. In 2006, New York Yankee hurler Cory Lidle died in a plane crash. In 2002, Darryl Kile, also a Cardinal pitcher, died because of a heart condition.

While Hancock, Lidle and Kile are the latest, many baseball players have had their careers cut short by a tragic death.

Here's a look at some major leaguers who have left the game before their time.

Harry Agganis
This Red Sox first baseman was making quite an impression in his second season in the majors, hitting .313, when he died of a massive pulmonary embolism on June 27, 1955 while in a Cambridge, Mass., hospital. He was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia. He was 25.

Lyman Bostock
The 27-year-old California outfielder's career was cut short when he was shot and killed in Gary, Indiana while riding in the backseat of his uncle's car on Sept. 23, 1978. The killer was aiming for his estranged wife, who was sitting next to Bostock. The outfielder was considered one of the better up and coming players in baseball after batting .336 with 90 RBIs with the Twins in 1977.

Ray Chapman
The only player to die from an injury sustained in a major-league game. The popular Indians shortstop, who was enjoying one of the best seasons of his nine-year career, was taking his place at the plate in a game against the New York Yankees when he was hit in the head by pitcher Carl Mays. He died on August 17, 1920 of complications of the skull fracture. He was 29.

One of the greatest players ever to swing a bat, Roberto Clemente is still revered in Latin America. (Canadian Press)

Roberto Clemente
Probably the highest-profile baseball player to die before retiring. The legendary Pittsburgh outfielder was killed on Dec. 31, 1972, when a plane he chartered to carry relief supplies to Nicaragua earthquake victims crashed in the waters near his native Puerto Rico.

The death came a few months after Clemente cemented his place in the baseball Hall of Fame by getting his 3,000th hit in his final regular-season at-bat. The 38-year-old Clemente played 18 seasons for the Pirates and won the NL MVP award in 1966, with 29 homers and 119 RBIs. Considered one of the best outfielders of his era, Clemente won 12 Gold Gloves.

Mike Darr
The 25-year-old Padres outfielder had just spent his first full season in the majors in 2001 and appeared headed for regular duty in the lineup when he was killed in an automobile accident in February in Phoenix, Ariz.

Ed Delahanty
Known as "Big Ed," Delahanty was considered one of the top players in the early days of baseball before he was found dead in Niagara Falls, N.Y. on July 9, 1903 after apparently falling off the International Bridge. The circumstances surrounding his death, some believe that he was pushed over the bridge, have never been resolved. The 35-year-old first baseman batted .346 with 101 home runs over 16 seasons in baseball. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1945.

Danny Frisella
A journeyman reliever, Frisella died on Jan. 1, 1977, in a dune-buggy accident near Phoenix, Ariz. The 30-year-old pitcher is best remember for teaming up with Tug McGraw to form a potent bullpen duo for the New York Mets in the early 70s.

Ken Hubbs
This 22-year-old second baseman of the Chicago Cubs was expected to have a long career in the Windy City before he died in a light plane crash near Provo, Utah on Feb. 15, 1964. Hubbs was pegged as a future star after winning the National League rookie of the year award and gold glove honours in 1962.

Addie Joss
A lanky, six-foot-three pitcher, Joss was getting ready for his 10th major-league season with Cleveland before he died at the age of 31 by a rare form of tubercular meningitis on April 14, 1911. Joss was one of the most dominant pitchers of his time, with a career record of 190-67. His 1.89 ERA ranks second all-time behind Ed Walsh. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

Cory Lidle
On October 11, 2006 the New York Yankees' pitcher became the latest in a long and tragic line of athletes and teams killed in aircraft accidents. An aspiring pilot, Lidle, a former Toronto Blue Jay, was flying his small plane over Manhattan before he crashed into a 40-storey apartment building in the Upper East Side, killing himself and his flight instructor. Lidle was 34 years old.

Darryl Kile
The 33-year-old St. Louis Cardinals pitcher was found dead in his Chicago hotel room on June 22, 2002. Kile's sudden death was caused by a heart condition called coronary atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. Doctors found Kile had a 90 per cent blockage in two coronary arteries, supplying blood to his heart.

Len Koenecke
After being thrown off an American Airlines flight for being too drunk, the Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder, who looked like he was going to be thrown off the team at the end of the season, boarded a charter flight in Detroit and started a fight in the cockpit while the plane is in the air, over Toronto. After a wild battle, the pilot kills Koenecke by hitting him over the head with a small fire extinguisher.

Bob Moose
The Pirates reliever was killed on his 29th birthday in an automobile accident. The five-year veteran had a standout season in 1969 as a starter. He went 14-3 and pitched a no-hitter against the Mets.

Ed Morris
A fish fry in this 32-year-old pitcher's honour turned deadly after he passed away from stab wounds to the chest sustained during a fight. Morris pitched one season for the Cubs before joining the Boston Red Sox for another three years. He won a combined 33 games from 1928-29.

Thurman Munson The entire city of New York was left stunned when the captain of the Yankees and seven-time all-star crashed in a plane he was piloting in Canton, Ohio. The 32-year-old catcher looked like he was destined for the Hall of Fame, winning rookie of the year honours in 1970 and then taking the MVP award six years later. For three straight seasons from 1975-1977, he drove in 100 or more runs.

Steve Olin and Tim Crews
Spring training is usually a time of renewal, but it was time of mourning in 1993 when both these Cleveland Indians pitchers were killed in a boating accident near Winter Haven, Fla. Olin, 27, was the Indians closer, saving 29 games in 1992. Crews, 31, was looking forward to his first season with Cleveland after six years with the Dodgers. He was a middle reliever.

Don Wilson
This 29-year-old hurler was the best pitcher in the Astros' rotation before he was found dead in his garage of carbon monoxide poisoning on Jan. 5, 1975. His five-year-old daughter also died in the incident. Wilson served notice in the majors from 1969-1972, when he went a combined 58-38. He threw no-hitters in 1967 (Braves) and 1969 (Reds).

With files from CBC Sports