Baseball: Pitcher's death ruled an accident

NEW YORK: - The grieving family of a minor league pitcher who died six months after being traded for 10 baseball bats said his overdose came after a night of partying gone wrong.

The medical examiner's office in Atlanta ruled that John Odom's death at 26 was an accident caused by drugs and alcohol.

"John Odom did not commit suicide," a family representative said.

"His death is a result of an election night out partying with his ignorant friends that turned tragically wrong. While he made some very poor decisions that night, John loved life more than anyone we've ever known, and he absolutely did not intend to kill himself."

The representative said that while Odom "wished the bat trade had never happened, he was making a new life for himself".

Odom, who spent four years in the San Francisco Giants' system, was traded last May by the Calgary Vipers of the independent Golden Baseball League to the Laredo Broncos of the United League.

He made three starts for Laredo and abruptly left the team, citing personal reasons.

Many teammates and coaches only recently learned of Odom's death. Several said midweek that the trade, which had gained widespread notoriety, weighed heavily on the pitcher.

Nathan Crawford who had pitched in the Minnesota Twins' organisation was Odom's roommate. Crawford, now living in Australia, recalled their first introduction.

"John and I met when I got home to Laredo one night. I was returning from a road trip," Crawford said. "He was like, 'Hey, I'm John.' I said, 'Hey mate, I'm Nathan.' Then he said, 'You haven't heard about me yet?' and I was like, 'Ahh, nah, what's up?' He then told me the whole trade story."

- AP