42 Athletes That Died Before 40

NBA | February 16, 2021

Roberto Clemente

Major League Baseball icon Roberto Clemente’s death is as sad as it gets. Clemente was a 15-time All-Star and won the World Series twice, spending all of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was well known for his humanitarian work in Latin America.

Sadly in 1972, aged just 38, Clemente was killed in a plane crash. He was on his way to Nicaragua to help those affected by an earthquake. Each year, MLB gives out the Roberto Clemente Award for the player who shows the greatest character on and off the field.