R.I.P. Danny Clyburn

Multiple news sites are reporting that former Orioles outfielder, Danny Clyburn, was shot and killed overnight in Lancaster, South Carolina. Apparently, Danny had been in an argument with another man when things escalated. The man who he was arguing with has been arrested and charged with his murder. Danny was only 37 years old, and his life was cut way too short.

I wrote a post about Danny back in January 2010, and don't have too much to add to that. Since that time I have discovered that he was the 612th player to appear in a game for the Orioles when he made his Orioles, and MLB, debut on September 17, 1997. And as far as I can tell, he is the first former Oriole to pass away in 2012.

Rest in Peace, Danny. It's always sad when a former player passes away, but is especially so in a violent situation like this one. I'm sorry that you have joined the sad fraternity of Oriole players who have been murdered, I believe joining only Howie Fox, who was stabbed to death in a bar he owned, way back in 1955.

A Danny Clyburn Kind of Day

Danny Clyburn 1997-98

Danny Clyburn is one of those guys that I remember some people had high expectations for, but things just didn't seem to work out. It's kind of like my day today, I was going to get up early and make a nice breakfast for myself before work but then my snooze button didn't work and I overslept. There's not much that Danny or I can do about anything at this point, but it leaves me feeling a little "meh".

Danny was drafted in 1992 by the Pirates in the 2nd round, and as a Pirates fan at the time, it seemed like he was going to be the next big thing. He never even made it to the Majors with the Pirates and was traded twice before making his big league debut with the Birds in 1997. The Reds traded him to Baltimore with another Minor Leaguer for Brad Pennington in 1995. That trade sure seems like a push looking back on it.

Danny ended up playing in only 13 games for the Orioles over his 2 seasons in Baltimore and struck out in nearly half of his at-bats with the team. He was traded to the Devil Rays for Jason Johnson before the '99 season and played in 28 games for Tampa that season which was his last taste of the Major Leagues. He continued to play for the Newark Bears of the Independent Atlantic League through the 2004 season before apparently hanging up his spikes.

As I hope that tomorrow starts out better than today, I wish Danny better luck with his post baseball career.

UPDATE 2/7/11- Unfortunately, Danny was shot and killed today in Lancaster, SC. A suspect is in custody. I'm sorry that your luck didn't improve Danny. RIP.