Ex Brave Tommy Hanson dead at age 29

[Tapate50]

Tommy Hanson is reportedly in an Atlanta area hospital in a coma. Per rotoworld. Unclear what caused it .

[bravesfanforlife88]

Hope he gets better....got to know him when I was a bat boy for the Gwinnett braves....great guy

[CyYoung31]

Damn...

[NinersSBChamps]

Wow. Don't even have anything to say.

[Dalyn]

Wow. That sucks.

[UNCBlue012]

Dang. Seriously? That's awful. Praying.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Dang. Prayers to him.

[bravesfanforlife88]

According to Twitter it is organ failure but they are not sure what caused it

[Horsehide Harry]

Hoping for a quick and full recovery

[Runnin]

Nothing specific but here one story. (http://http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/11/09/report-tommy-hanson-in-a-coma-at-atlanta-area-hospital/)

Hang in the Tommy.

[mossy]

Oh man. I sure hope he's ok! :(

[cajunrevenge]

Wow. Remind me not take stock advice from Don Sutton.

[UNCBlue012]

Schafer just tweeted out RIP TH, but I'm not sure if it's all social media still or not.

Apparently he's suffering from catastrophic organ failure.

[bravesnumberone]

Oh no, that's horrible.

[CrimsonCowboy]

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[Hudson2]

Seen as few more rip Tommy Hanson posts on twitter. I'm hoping they're bogus. Always liked Tommy. Prayers to him and his family!

[bravesnumberone]

People on Twitter are miserable human beings. Some posts attacking him. I hate humans sometimes.

[CrimsonCowboy]

So far, other than Schafer's tweet, there are no other credible reports of his passing, so until we get those, just need to treat this as him being in a coma. That doesn't take away the seriousness of it, because frankly, reading the same reports I'm sure you have, it sounds really bad. I am closely monitoring Twitter to see if something credible news happens. If I see anything, I will post it.

Just pray, guys and gals.

[CrimsonCowboy]

People on Twitter are miserable human beings. Some posts attacking him. I hate humans sometimes.

I've been seeing the same things. Makes you want to reach through the computer and slap them.

[UNCBlue012]

@ZachKleinWSB: Per MLB source, former #Braves pitcher
Tommy Hanson has passed away
He was 29
#RIPTH 🙏

He's gone. Officially. :( how awful.

[CrimsonCowboy]

663947845834137600

[Krovahn]

Damn. RIP...

[bravesnumberone]

Just really sad. 29. Prayers for his family.

[CrimsonCowboy]

663950297748873217

[Hudson2]

Crazy man just crazy. Saw people posting pics of him just this past weekend and he looked fine. Just never know. Sad sad news.

[CK86]

Feel awful for him, his family and friends. Just terrible and tragic news. Always liked watching him when he was with the Braves. RIP

[MadduxFanII]

Good God. This was so sudden.

[Prikichi]

RIP Tommy 😢 I'm speechless and heartbroke, 29 is too young for anyone regardless of being a known athlete or not to go.

[CrimsonCowboy]

First of I'm sure many such tweets:
663956211931455488

[CrimsonCowboy]

Some thoughts from Mark Bowman:
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[Buzzworm]

RIP Tommy

[CrimsonCowboy]

From Ben Ingram of the Braves Radio Network:
663956961138835458
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A couple M.L. players have chimed in:
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[SidSlid92]

Wow hate to hear this news. First saw him in Rome, and knew he was special. Went to several of his starts at Gwinnett, and couldn't wait for him to be in the show. Always enjoyed seeing big red take the mound. Such a sad situation for a family to lose someone that young.

[zitothebrave]

What sad news.

[DaneHill]

Wow. I'm stunned. My best memory of him is his incredibly dominant AFL performance that confirmed he would be in Atlanta's plans that following season.

[CrimsonCowboy]

663965871338057728

[rniki10]

I've had the honor of crossing Tommy's path more than a few times and he was always very kind. This news was like a punch to the stomach. RIP Big Red.

[CrimsonCowboy]

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[bravesnumberone]

From DOB story:

"In the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year balloting, Hanson finished behind Chris Coghlan and J.A. Happ and ahead of Andrew McCutchen."

[CrimsonCowboy]

663975937336197121

[mossy]

Horrible news. RIP Tommy.

[GovClintonTyree]

Aw, geez. Just awful. Never forget how dominant he was the first year and a half. He was money. He's the first guy I can remember throwing that spike curve that Kimbrel and others picked up. Prayers to him and his loved ones.

[GovClintonTyree]

Might want to change the title on the thread, too. Geez, this sucks.

[rico43]

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/09/25/usp-mlb_-miami-marlins-at-atlanta-braves-16_9.jpg

[Runnin]

Horrible news. RIP Tommy.

[clvclv]

Terrible news. Hanson was one of the "young guns" that really got Braves' fans seriously excited not so long ago.

RIP Tommy.

[Deester11]

Truly sad. Lots of memories but I remember a minor league game where he had to be pulled away for signing so many autographs. RIP Tommy.

[nsacpi]

Very sad news. RIP Tommy.

[50PoundHead]

Wow. Just wow. Hard to believe anyone this young just passes away suddenly from a disease. Curious to see what the details are. Anyway, thoughts and prayers to the Hanson family.

[Metaphysicist]

Terrible.

[PurpleBrave]

What is catosrophic organ failure? It sounds horrifying

What a sad story. I remember when he was tabbed as the best prospect in baseball

Rip

[JohnAdcox]

Prayers for peace and comfort for his family. Blessings. There are no words.

[dak]

Terrible news, especially at 29 years old. Hope to see the Braves do something in remembrance of Tommy this season.

[Tapate50]

What a shocker. Just crazy. Goes to show we don't know when our number is called. Terrible news.

RIP TH. Helluva ride watching him come up.

[KB21]

I'm wearing this shirt today.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTc_kbRUYAIs_bE.jpg:large

Prayers to the Hanson Family and the Atlanta Braves Family.

[Millwood1Hitter]

RIP Tommy. Prayers and strength to those that were closest to him.

[bravesnumberone]

I know it's Scout, but this is a good one from Shanks.

http://www.scout.com/mlb/braves/story/1609739-god-bless-tommy-hanson

[thewupk]

Not the news I wanted to see this morning. Just very very sad. His family is in my thoughts.

[Julio3000]

Wow, just awful. Best to his family and friends.

I remember him from a Braves caravan many years ago. He seemed like a nice kid. He looked like a normal-sized dude sitting at the autograph table, until you looked under the table and saw that his legs were practically folded double.

[bravesnumberone]

Bill upset on his radio show today. It's clear how much of an impact Tommy had on everyone who knew him. Life just isn't fair.

[Garmel]

I hope we wear a patch of some sort next year for Hanson. He was a great kid.

[Braves1976]

Wow, I saw this posted on facebook just now and I'm still in shock. My prayers go out to Tommy's family and friends. Very sad to hear he was still young.

[CrimsonCowboy]

I was afraid of this:
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[thewupk]

I was afraid of this:
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Me too. Really sad.

[gilesfan]

I read that from the start but hoping it wasnt true. Apparently it was prominent with Braves players that he hung out with. Like a certain guy busted for weed.

Ive never heard anyone say anything bad about Hanson and this doesnt change that he was a good dude and this is sad

[50PoundHead]

If it indeed an overdose, I wonder if it's related to prescription painkillers. He's been injured and likely in a fair amount of pain as a result and who knows what these team doctors (and the like) are willing to ladle out in an attempt to wring the last drips of value out of a player. Just spit-balling and trying to make sense of this tragedy.

[zitothebrave]

If it indeed an overdose, I wonder if it's related to prescription painkillers. He's been injured and likely in a fair amount of pain as a result and who knows what these team doctors (and the like) are willing to ladle out in an attempt to wring the last drips of value out of a player. Just spit-balling and trying to make sense of this tragedy.

I wouldn't be shocked if that was the case. Prescription drug addiction is a serious issue in the US. Instead of addressing it we just perpetuate it.

no joking was prescribed percs for having my toothpulled. Just one tooth, nothing crazy, pretty straight foward. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't on something that strong after my second hip surgery where i was on tylenol with codeine.

[gilesfan]

If it indeed an overdose, I wonder if it's related to prescription painkillers. He's been injured and likely in a fair amount of pain as a result and who knows what these team doctors (and the like) are willing to ladle out in an attempt to wring the last drips of value out of a player. Just spit-balling and trying to make sense of this tragedy.

Unfortunately the internet rumor is cocaine. And with his brother passing, it could have been a stressor.

[50PoundHead]

Unfortunately the internet rumor is cocaine. And with his brother passing, it could have been a stressor.

That must have been one sh*tload of cocaine or mixed with heroin in a speedball.

[sc1767]

Very sad to see this happen. As far as the OD part of it, "Early Sunday morning" (aka late Saturday night), and his age, was a pretty strong clue that it wasn't likely from natural causes.

[KB21]

I wouldn't be shocked if that was the case. Prescription drug addiction is a serious issue in the US. Instead of addressing it we just perpetuate it.

no joking was prescribed percs for having my toothpulled. Just one tooth, nothing crazy, pretty straight foward. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't on something that strong after my second hip surgery where i was on tylenol with codeine.

I'm a sports medicine physician, and my policy at my practice is that you get narcotic pain medication only if you have a fracture or have had surgery, and even then, you get only a certain amount up front. The fact of the matter is, the post op pain from surgery doesn't typically last very long. I'd say that three weeks post op after a rotator cuff repair, and you should be taking no more than 1-2 pills a day if that.

[gilesfan]

That must have been one sh*tload of cocaine or mixed with heroin in a speedball.

What if you are a long time user or mixing it with other stuff?

[braves31win]

Glad you posted this. Fewer MDs are prescribing "percs" than ever before since the higher schedule for hydrocodone and I have been glad to see it.

[sc1767]

What if you are a long time user or mixing it with other stuff?

I know you didn't ask me but if you are a long time user, you are probably doing more per "dose" because you've built up a tolerance. So, if you get something extra pure, it can be trouble as you are doing a lot of it at once. Probably. Not that this has anything at all to do with this situation. Just in general.

[50PoundHead]

What if you are a long time user or mixing it with other stuff?

I think if it is mixed it could easily be lethal.

[Runnin]

Someone of FB said "sepsis" but I haven't seen that anywhere else.

[KB21]

Someone of FB said "sepsis" but I haven't seen that anywhere else.

That would be very likely. Sepsis can definitely cause multiple organ failure. I had a patient when I was in residency who had C. Diff colitis and developed gram negative sepsis from it. He passed very soon after his lungs, kidneys, and heart failed him.

I've also had a patient who overdosed an a crapload of stuff who survived, and that guy had respiratory failure, renal failure, and I think he even went into shock liver at one point. I had him in the ICU for 6 weeks and in the hospital for 3 months. I think I ran a code on him twice and brought him back. He walked out of the hospital.

[goldfly]

All of this talk about legal drugs that kill people and weed is still illegal but that's for a different day

I was looking for some pins at my desk and just came across this:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n579/goldfly66/81CFAA8B-94B9-4951-A568-361FE6A7CC7D_zps3weuoc4y.jpg

RIP Tommy

[bravesnumberone]

Really awful. Prescription drugs can be very dangerous (if that's what it was.) Won't comment too much on it until we know for sure.

[Lenny]

Back when he was with the braves and pitching good, I had a friend that worked at an Atlanta club that Tommy frequented, mostly because his older sister was a waitress at the club. My friend talked with him many times and always told me how good of a guy he was and that he was pretty straight, never doing any drugs or anything. I would be very surprised if it comes out that he was doing some type of illegal drugs based on things I was being told back then.

[buck75]

Very sad.

[Runnin]

The vagueness in the way his death is begin reported makes one wonder. The one question in everyone's mind isn't addressed? - How does a 29 yr old professional athlete just die?

[Mad Dog Murph]

Reminds me of the rumor game from elementary school. ....by this time next week it will be on twitter that Tommy was snorting lines off some hookers ass while Chipper was shooting him up with heroin. How about we wait to find out what really freaking happened before we start discussing what he supposedly od'd on!!

RIP Tommy

[mossy]

Darryl Kile was 33 when he died, but it never read if there were warning signs.

[Ampere]

The vagueness in the way his death is begin reported makes one wonder. The one question in everyone's mind isn't addressed? - How does a 29 yr old professional athlete just die?

From the description I'd say it was most likely Asherson's Syndrome (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ashersons-syndrome), a rare autoimmune disease.

[gilesfan]

Darryl Kile was 33 when he died, but it never read if there were warning signs.

He had heart attack and had been complaining about pain in his shoulder for a couple days.

[gilesfan]

I dont understand why athletes associate themselves with scumbags like the tattoo artist Hanson was with on the night of his death.

Edit: for people that dont know the guy is a male cleat chaser that was banned from the clubhouse

[50PoundHead]

The vagueness in the way his death is begin reported makes one wonder. The one question in everyone's mind isn't addressed? - How does a 29 yr old professional athlete just die?

I'll let professionals like KB21 give you a better approximation, but I think the way kids train these days from a very young age often puts the body under undue stress. My daughter was a competitive gymnast and I was constantly amazed (and somewhat appalled) by the rigor of her training at a very young age. 20 hours of practice per week for kids who are 11 and 12 years old. She left club gymnastics at age 13 and moved to high school gymnastics and grew about four inches and gained ten pounds in one year. My example is a bit off the wall, but I look at these kids who are playing a single sport year-round and maintaining strenuous conditioning regimens and can't help but wonder if that is simply putting too much stress on bodies, especially those of adolescents. It seems that we witnessing more physical collapses of college athletes (particularly in football and basketball) and it does make me wonder what's up.

[Russ2dollas]

I'm a sports medicine physician, and my policy at my practice is that you get narcotic pain medication only if you have a fracture or have had surgery, and even then, you get only a certain amount up front. The fact of the matter is, the post op pain from surgery doesn't typically last very long. I'd say that three weeks post op after a rotator cuff repair, and you should be taking no more than 1-2 pills a day if that.

This is off topic. And this is a sad topic.

I am a pharmacist at a hospital. If that is truly your practice may the lord bless and keep you always. That is rare, really rare.

[BRule]

Per the AP the 911 call was for an overdose.

[Runnin]

[/B]

I'll let professionals like KB21 give you a better approximation, but I think the way kids train these days from a very young age often puts the body under undue stress. My daughter was a competitive gymnast and I was constantly amazed (and somewhat appalled) by the rigor of her training at a very young age. 20 hours of practice per week for kids who are 11 and 12 years old. She left club gymnastics at age 13 and moved to high school gymnastics and grew about four inches and gained ten pounds in one year. My example is a bit off the wall, but I look at these kids who are playing a single sport year-round and maintaining strenuous conditioning regimens and can't help but wonder if that is simply putting too much stress on bodies, especially those of adolescents. It seems that we witnessing more physical collapses of college athletes (particularly in football and basketball) and it does make me wonder what's up.

Over training may not have been an issue in this case, but you are right. It seems like there have been a dozen or so football related deaths this year. And with the temperatures so high, twoadays in the middle of August is crazy.

Whicker: Tommy Hanson was haunted to the end by family loss (http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/20151110/whicker-tommy-hanson-was-haunted-to-the-end-by-family-loss)

[sc1767]

Per the AP the 911 call was for an overdose.

yeah a lot of stuff is coming out.

[bravesnumberone]

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/911-call-tommy-hansons-dog-let-friends-know-someth/npNCd/

[bravesfanforlife88]

Toxicology reports came back....officially died of cocaine/alcohol overdose

[JohnAdcox]

Toxicology reports came back....officially died of cocaine/alcohol overdose

That’s just a kick in the gut. Poor guy.

[The Chosen One]

Why do athletes try stuff like that? It makes no sense whatsoever.

I would never smoke, snort, inject crap in my body. Heck I don't want anything on my body that not supposed to be there including piercings and tattoos.

The hospital has to sign a letter if they put me under that if I have complications I could sue due to not so good side effects and if I have effects I don't have to pay. You keep me awake or else.

All opiates are banned for me by my rule. I can deal with pain so just do not have me take any medication that affects my brain.




I think Sav and Dalyn can back me up on my Facebook posts about those things and understand why.

I think most athletes go into a depression, when they can no longer play at a high level and it's the only thing they've really ever been good at their entire life.

Tommy was 29, but because of shoulder injuries he went from being a damn good starter among the best in the top level, to scrap heap off the street.

Tommy never got that big free agent contract.

Not excusing what he did of course, but it wouldn't be the first time a former athlete on depression started doing excessive alcohol and opiate intake.

[AerchAngel]

I think most athletes go into a depression, when they can no longer play at a high level and it's the only thing they've really ever been good at their entire life.

Tommy was 29, but because of shoulder injuries he went from being a damn good starter among the best in the top level, to scrap heap off the street.

Tommy never got that big free agent contract.

Not excusing what he did of course, but it wouldn't be the first time a former athlete on depression started doing excessive alcohol and opiate intake.

They have meds for that.

I take depression pills (Excitalopram) and they actually work which I did not believe would. I would not sleep for days, pace around and god forbid when I was in Atlanta with a a cast on my wrist, I couldn't sleep, I wanted to saw the darn thing off. The doc said I was panic depressive, something akin to claustrophobic, she said take these and in 30 days you will feel normal.

That crapped worked.

[AerchAngel]

People think depression is nothing. Some people go to extremes and die, like said of the topic. I thought of suicide and such thoughts on a daily basis, but I thought about my wife and children and decide to do something instead of going to hard drugs. I have had vicodin, oxycodone and other opiates and I did not like what they did to me, they made it worst. I went under with several surgeries for broken bones for sports even at my old age. I just like playing sports at my age. Since I can be in a wheel chair and work, broken bones is not an issue. But each time they put me under the side effects where the worst and the opiates they gave me was even worser. I had no cognizant thought at all and I hated that so I told them no meds, I will deal with the pain and yes it was excruciating but doable.

If Hanson had my mental capacity of dealing with pain and not go this route he would be alive but I know he didn't. A lot of athletes don't. I guess their euphoria is different than mine. I hated every minute of it. I want to enjoy my family with a clear head, not a dope head, not a pain med head and someone in his family did not address this issue.

[Lenny]

I've been around for a long time but rarely post. For future reference, make sure you are logged in before you try to find the Reply to Thread button.

Anyway, I posted in this thread earlier that I have a friend that knows him pretty well. My friend is good friends with his sister who he hung out with a lot when he was in town. Talked to my friend tonight and this is what I was told.

My friend talked to Tommy that night in the club she and his sister work at. She had a conversation with him and a few others for about 30 minutes. That night he was not partying hard, something that he often did when he was in town. He was only a heavy drinker though, didn't do drugs ever that she knew of. Everyone that knows him was surprised about the drugs because when his shoulder was hurt he did develop a problem with pain killers but he was very open about what he was going through and never hid it. He also worked hard to get rid of that dependency. That would make the cocaine out of character for him.

She said that when he was out drinking he always had a driver and other people around. He was always a very responsible partyer. On this night he only had a couple of beers, no driver and just with a couple of friends, and the tattoo guy also was not with him at this time. She said that he was just home for Thanksgiving and he was very excited because he was getting ready for something (not sure what but maybe some of you others know of what this might have been) where he would be able to showcase himself and he was expecting to get signed by a team for next season. He said his shoulder felt great and he was expecting to be able to pitch good again. Point is, he was not really partying that night, had no driver like normal so what happened later that night is very strange and totally out of character for him.

Also, she said when he was found he had a huge gash on his head and the guy he was with never explained how that happened. She said she was with him about 3 hours before 911 was called and he was not doing anything at that time but had a couple of beers.

I do not know Tommy Hanson or his family and am just posting what a good friend of mine that does know him well told me.

[AerchAngel]

I've been around for a long time but rarely post. For future reference, make sure you are logged in before you try to find the Reply to Thread button.

Anyway, I posted in this thread earlier that I have a friend that knows him pretty well. My friend is good friends with his sister who he hung out with a lot when he was in town. Talked to my friend tonight and this is what I was told.

My friend talked to Tommy that night in the club she and his sister work at. She had a conversation with him and a few others for about 30 minutes. That night he was not partying hard, something that he often did when he was in town. He was only a heavy drinker though, didn't do drugs ever that she knew of. Everyone that knows him was surprised about the drugs because when his shoulder was hurt he did develop a problem with pain killers but he was very open about what he was going through and never hid it. He also worked hard to get rid of that dependency. That would make the cocaine out of character for him.

She said that when he was out drinking he always had a driver and other people around. He was always a very responsible partyer. On this night he only had a couple of beers, no driver and just with a couple of friends, and the tattoo guy also was not with him at this time. She said that he was just home for Thanksgiving and he was very excited because he was getting ready for something (not sure what but maybe some of you others know of what this might have been) where he would be able to showcase himself and he was expecting to get signed by a team for next season. He said his shoulder felt great and he was expecting to be able to pitch good again. Point is, he was not really partying that night, had no driver like normal so what happened later that night is very strange and totally out of character for him.

Also, she said when he was found he had a huge gash on his head and the guy he was with never explained how that happened. She said she was with him about 3 hours before 911 was called and he was not doing anything at that time but had a couple of beers.

I do not know Tommy Hanson or his family and am just posting what a good friend of mine that does know him well told me.

He tried that is good thing to hear. He had people around him that is good to hear. But the circumstances around it sounds like a crime.

[AerchAngel]

I lost an uncle to depression, blew his head off, did not use drugs, Hanson did not but I don't think he did it voluntarily. So I take this seriously.

[Pugfan]

Nope,

some one told me to shut up and I told him to make me.

He back down like he should have.

Depression is something you don't mess around about and he made fun of it.
I know how you feel. I've been depressed a lot most of my life. I've been taken Zoloft and Xanax since I was 15.

[AerchAngel]

I know how you feel. I've been depressed a lot most of my life. I've been taken Zoloft and Xanax since I was 15.

I think I post what I took earlier in the thread.

I did not believe it would work. I took so many pain medications of the hardest sort and rejected them because they mess with my mind. Any future surgeries they are not permitted to put me under unless they sign a letter I can sue them. I told them I am pain tolerant better than most people in this world as I had a wisdom tooth pull with just numb medication but the pain was up there.

But when I started to get agitated with casts on my body I was one second of sawing it off, I hated it, so the doc sent me to another and she said I have anxiety panic depression, which is dangerous. I ask if it would make me loopy as I hate not having my faculties, reason why I don't go out and drink only at home. She told me the side effects and I agree that is not bad.

Been taking them ever since.

So Depression and other ailments is real, Hanson had, I have it, you have it, but we have insensitive people who don't understand that we have to have something to control our issues.

[AerchAngel]

Sav allow me to undo the damage I have done to the thread. So all posts regarding my posts in regards to this have been deleted except the part of depression.

Hanson had it, I have it now and I am taking meds like others on this board. It is not a joke. Some people would go to drugs, alcohol and what not and I think Hanson's death was a crime from what I am seeing considering what Lenny is saying. Then someone wanted to take shots at me for some odd reason and I went off. I apologize for that. I am not a person who has issue getting make fun of and not defend it, which I did.

I was told in the future to squash it before I go off and I will. Rico and Sav/The Don both talk to me and they have been great. I had the power to delete the hateful messages but I was too scared to and was willing to leave the board if they wanted. This is how I am. Honest and would do what is good for everyone.