Former Major League Baseball Pitcher Dead at 29, Another Athlete Dies Young

Former Major League Pitcher Tommy Hanson has died suddenly at the age of 29, adding to an ever-growing list of athletes to die before age 30.

We expect professional athletes to be prime physical specimens, immune to the ills and problems that plague "regular" people, and we assume that they, of all people, will live to a ripe old age. Unfortunately, that often is not the case.

You may not know this guy, but here is Tommy Hanson - a professional baseball player gone from this life at the tender age of 29.

According to ESPN, Hanson was having trouble breathing Sunday morning and was taken to the hospital, suffering from catastrophic organ failure. The Braves confirmed Hanson's death late Monday night.

Hanson pitched five seasons in the big leagues - four with the Atlanta Braves and one with the Texas Rangers. Hanson was a top prospect for the Braves organization in 2005.

Here's a look at 14 athletes who died before age 30. Ironically, most of the premature deaths aren't due to physical problems. There are car accidents, a plane crash, lost at sea, suicide, and murder - like the case of former Denver Broncos defensive back Darrent Williams, who was killed in a drive-by shooting.