Life Expectancies of Major League Baseball Players

Jarron M. Saint Onge, University of Colorado at Boulder
Richard G. Rogers, University of Colorado at Boulder

Physical activity and socioeconomic status (SES) are linked with better health and greater longevity. Professional athletes are highly select groups that are characterized by both high levels of physical activity and high SES. Current research about the longevity among professional and elite athletes do not have consistent results and show different outcomes from the general public. This study expands on this research by examining the mortality of baseball players over the last century. We use a unique, longitudinal dataset to examine life expectancies among this group of Major League Baseball players. We use life-tables to examine and document the importance of age, cohort, and period effects on mortality patterns. This research provides important demographic results that can be used to explain longevity trends in the general U.S. population as well as a specific, visible, and important subpopulation.