The Cardinals offer condolences to the family of Oscar Taveras, the 22-year-old Cardinals outfielder who was killed in an automobile accident in the Dominican Republic. All fans are invited to use this guestbook blog to share their condolences and memories of Oscar as well.
“We are all stunned and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of the youngest members of the Cardinals family,” Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. “Oscar was an amazing talent with a bright future who was taken from us well before his time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight.”
“I simply can’t believe it,” said John Mozeliak, Sr. VP & GM of the Cardinals. “I first met Oscar when he was sixteen years old and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest.”
The team will provide additional information on funeral arrangements at a later time. Please share your condolences and memories in the comments below.
Remembering Oscar 
I loved Oscar as I know the rest of the Cardinal Nation did. It was amazing to be able to watch him play. He was a great athlete and he will be missed. Rest in peace.
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I’d like to thank Oscar for one of the best memories I’ll have for the rest of my life. I was at game 2 of the NLCS. His pinch hit HR was something special considering this was the first playoff game I had ever been to. Again thank you Oscar for this memory I can share with everyone. Thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends as well as your girlfriends. To the cardinals organization, I’m sorry you have lost a good player with a very bright future. We will always and forever be Cardinal Strong!
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Prayers go out to the Taveras family and the entire St Louis Cardinals organization. On behalf of all Pirate fans, we are all in support during this dark time.
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We’ll never know as fans what heights you would have reached. But the thought of that, everyone knowing you had greatness in that smile, we all see the impact you made on your short time in baseball and on Earth. I had the privilege to watch you play this summer and was so excited to finally see the phenom. That first home run you hit brought so much joy to me in my living room. Baseball is the sport I love, so much of my life revolving around the Cardinals. I now see what the TRUE meaning of Cardinals Nation really is. I wasn’t old enough to feel the impact of Darryl Kile or Josh Hancock. But this was devastating news. Hope you get to see the joy you brought to everyone. We will always celebrate your life and never forget the memories you gave us.
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to families of Tavares and his girlfriend. Tavares was a great Cardinal player. He will be missed greatly by the Cardinal fans and Cardinal team. We love our cardinals and when something like this happens, we hurt. Farewell, our Cardinal “Oscar Tavares”, you will not be forgotten.
A Cardinal Fan forever…
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Thank you Lord for Oscar. Thank you to Oscar’s family for sharing him with us.
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My 9 year old son is taking this hard and is heartbroken I took him to see the Cards and it happened to be Oscar’s major league debut. We all know he hit a homerun in his second at bat. After that homerun, he won himself an instant fan with my 9 year old. We send our love and prayers to Oscar’s family and the family of his girlfriend. Oscar will be missed by more people than he could ever have known.
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It is a terrible loss to the world when we lose a person like the players say Oscar was. And they knew him best. It is very unfortunate that accidents happen to us. I send my condolences to Oscar’s family and his baseball family, including the fans. Someone on Facebook had an excellent, if I may quote Nic Pokines, it would be good to darken the stadium completely and leave 1 light on in the field where he predominantly played, right field…Nic is right and this is an excellent tribute/idea!! Thank you Nic!!
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Prayers and condolences to Oscar, his family, friends and especially to his team mates. Such a tragedy that will be felt for a long time in the future.
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Oscar, I had the memory with my granddaughter to be at the game when you hit your first home at the major league level. It was your second time at bat and I told my granddaughter that you were going to hit a home run and you did. Now we will always have that memory along with the sad one of never getting to see you play to your potential. I know you would have been great. We will miss you but know you are with other Cardinals who have passed on to heaven and will be playing the great game of baseball in the real “Baseball Heaven”.
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As a Cubs fan I wasn’t happy when he hit that home run in the NLCS, but as a baseball fan I mourn for the loss of such great, young talent. R.I.P
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Oscar, you will be missed! Praying for peace and comfort for the family and friends.
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The news hit me like a shockwave. It took me a few minutes to fully grasp what had happened. Oscar, you will be missed by many. You were destined for greatness and taken too soon from us. I’ll always cherish watching your first career home run as well as your home run in the playoffs. At a time like this, baseball seems so unimportant. I just wish you were back with us. RIP Oscar Taveras.
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So sorry for the loss of this young man, he had a bright future ahead of him, such a shame. Our sympathy to his family.
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As a Huge Cards fan for 51 years, it TRULEY shocked me to hear this news yesterday… It was so sad and my heart immediately felt for the two families and the Cardinal Orginization. Cardinal Nation and STL lost a part of them as well. In his short time on the field, he showed us great potential and one of the sweetest swings I have ever seen. It’s a great loss and a true talent taken way to soon.,,, may God bless this family and the entire Cardinals Orginization and all the fans. I pray God helps ease the pain for all…. HE WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A ST LOUIS CARDINAL!!
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Oscar,
You sir were an amazing ball player. You kept us alive this post season a few times with unbelievable hits when it seemed we were losing hope. As my husband, children and I watched the games you shined bright and always looked ready. You are greatly missed by many, and sadly missed by the Criddle Family, all the way here in Las Vegas, NV. To you and your girlfriend, may you rest in peace! You’re now play in the field of dreams!
My condolences to the entire club and staff and most of all, their family and friends!
You are sadly missed
The Criddles
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Sad to hear about this. Now I don’t like STL at all but it’s terrible to hear anyone die in the world of sports. My deepest condolences and prayers are with the Tavares family, the STL Cardinals, and anyone else effected by his death in anyway.
RIP. 😦
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As a writer, I pride myself on knowing what to say and when to say it, but even now, a full day later, I’m still at a loss for words when I think about the loss of Oscar Taveras. It hits me especially hard when I realize that he was the same age as my youngest brother, and when I think of losing him, I begin to understand ever so slightly what the Taveras family must be going through, and that’s a horrible thing. It’s an awful thing when the size of one’s talent and the length of one’s life are at such a tragically imbalanced ratio, but I’ll be forever grateful that I and the rest of the baseball community had the chance to witness both. We’re sorry that you’re gone, but thankful you were with us at all. May you and your girlfriend be at peace.
Much love,
Yale
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Too young, Too soon.
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I am absolutely grief stricken. Such a fine young athlete. My heartfelt condolences to the Taveras and Arvelo families and to the St Louis Cardinals entire family fans included. I love the Cardinals and I am so very very sorry for our loss. May God keep them in peace and bless and uplift us all at this difficult and truly painful time.
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The GAME of BASEBALL is more than just a game. It is a National Pastime that draws us in and binds us. Today, Cardinal Nation has lost a young player that had tremendous talent and a promising career. But, more than that, the Game of Baseball has lost a wonderful ambassador. Our Cardinal Family mourns your passing, and we will miss you….BASEBALL will miss you Oscar! You are gone, but never forgotten….
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After hearing the news of Taveras’s passing, I had a real tough time freeing my mind and thoughts to get a good nights sleep. When you follow and cheer for a team so passionately, it almost feels like you lost a member of your family. A friend of mine said this last night, and it couldn’t be more true: “There’s a connection we have with the athletes we root for that is impossible to explain. And it’s hit some of us hard tonight.”
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Oscar played with his heart and soul. The utter joy he got from playing could not be concealed, and it made him immediately loveable to fans. To say all that is not to say we could know him or, truly, know the pain his family feels in losing him. But we did love him. He was one of ours, and he was–quickly, already–a really great one of ours. Thanks to Oscar’s family for sharing him with us for a time. So glad he was a Cardinal. He is beloved; he is already missed.
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So incredibly saddened by the loss of such a young and talented man. Our prayers go out to all those who knew and loved Oscar! He will be so sadly missed! May you rest in peace, Oscar!
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Dear Cardinals, Taveras family, & all of STL,
I am a Cardinals fan by accident. Loved baseball but had been raised in ATL, the Braves were the team I was raised on. After playing softball for many years, getting older, married, moved to STL as my hubby got a different job, I was introduced to the Cardinals by watching one of their games at a friends house. I was curious, the games seemed always sold out. I came to find out & learn that the STL Cardinal Nation wasn’t just about the organization, but the organization, fans, & city were a true close knit family! I was blown away. Became a fan immediately! Have moved back to GA to take care of my parents, I am still a Cards fan! Can’t come to the games, but watch when I can.
Taveras was amazing & brought such excitement to our team! He is & was a great player showing us how passionate he is about baseball & playing for the Cardinals! My prayers are being said for his Cardinal family & his own family.
May the Cardinals dedicate next year to having the Taveras’ passion take over their season like never before. May the Cardinals prepare to not play the game the old fashion way but to bring creativity, strategy, studying styles of their opponents, & make a statement to the MLB that Cardinals Nation isn’t a group of players that have a hard time finishing the season out.
Practice, practice, strategize, practice, practice, then win BIG- all with the passion that Taveras had pouring out of his body.
Most importantly, making playing baseball fun again with passion as it was earlier in your life. Play for the joy of it!! In memory of Taveras!
Praying for God to wrap His bigs arms around all of you, knowing His love will sustain you during your time of grief, & His presence being there for you at all times!
Love- a HUGE CARDS FAN IN GA!
Elizabeth Garvin
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You will be so missed. You had such great talent for someone so young. My prayers go out to your family and also your Cardinal family. We loved you when we had you. A die-hard Cardinal fan-Sandy.
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RIP Oscar Praying for both families.
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Rest in Peace Oscar.Saw him at AAA Memphis in May, he was a great player.Later that month he got called up and hit a home run in his first at bat.Everyone knew he was something special.My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
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My prayers are with the Taveras Family. What a joy Oscar was to watch. He will be missed.
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Enjoyed watching the energy that OT brought to the game! You could tell that he always wanted to help the team produce any way that he could. Was great to see him get his first MLB hit for a homer at home in front of Cardinal Nation, and gave him a standing O as he deserved. He had such a bright future in front of him, and was sadly taken far too early! My condolences to all those who knew him, especially his family and friends. You’ll be missed OT, and hope the Cards honor you next year with a patch on their jerseys. #12in15for18
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Reblogged this on Alyssadanielle89's Blog.
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So sad you were taken from us so soon. You showed so much potential. Loved to watch your long swing and your enthusiasm. You will be missed . As someone else mentioned, you are our angel in the outfield now. May you rest in peace.
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May you rest in peace Oscar. May your family find peace and strength in this time of uncertainty and sorrow. My condolences are also extended to the family of your girlfriend. May they find peace. You will be sadly missed on the baseball field.
I have been a Cardinals fan since I can remember. I am so proud that you were a Cardinal player. You were a gifted and talented player. But, you will now get to play with the greatest in baseball. You will get to hear Jack Buck yell Go Crazy Folks .. Go Crazy!! God Bless you and your family..
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I am deeply saddened and heartbroken.
I was looking forward to watching him in the Spring. He was a great athlete and a wonderful addition to the St Louis Cardinals. I will miss him in the field.
May the team and families involved in this horrific tragedy find peace during this difficult time. God bless Oscar’s family, his girlfriend’s family and the Cardinals Club family.
:o( Heartbroken in Missouri
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I’m a Rays fan so I don’t care about the cards but I am praying for the family every day and night. 🙏😭
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I couldn’t believe it as I was reading the article. I’m actually going to my uncle funeral and read this and thought “could it get any worse”. As cardinal fans we let the players into our life and hearts. They are not just someone we watch on tv. He will be sorely missed and it will be hard to replace a player as well as the person he was. My heart goes out to his family as well as his girlfriend’s family.
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Oscar – I was honored to be able to cheer for you and thankful to have gotten to see you play. To Oscar and his girlfriends family – my heart goes out to you and send prayers your way. Two angels are now watching you from heaven and will always be with you.
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I am absolutely stunned. I never met Oscar but I watched him play every game. I can’t imagine how his teammates are taking this. My condolences.
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Sadness fills my heart. I’m praying for the families involved in such a terrible tragedy. You will forever be a cardinal. R.I.P. to you two who left us way too soon.
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he would of been the next albert !Dave Indiana
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My thoughts go out to the families of Oscar and his young girlfriend, may they rest in peace.
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Rest in peace Oscar. Your time was short, but you will always be remembered!
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Praying for the Taveras family in this time of grief. Oscar will always be a Cardinal and in Cardinal Nation memories. R.I.P. Oscar!
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You will be missed Oscar! I was looking forward to seeing you excel, and watching that gorgeous swing for many many years. Cardinal Nation will always love you!
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The first time, my husband and I saw Oscar Taveras play, it was in Springdale, Arkansas, at Arvest Park, in the minor leagues. My husband leaned over to me and whispered that we were seeing a future St. Louis Cardinal. He was not wrong. It is so sad to hear of his passing along with his girl friend. They were so young. Prayers and Thoughts to both families and to the Cardinal Nation. #STLouisCardinals
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Our hearts are saddened by the news of Oscar’s sudden death and that of his girlfriend. Prayers for both of their families, the Cardinal baseball team, and all of Cardinal Nation who mourn his passing.
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RIP Oscar. Thoughts and prayers go out to both families. All of Cardinals Nation is mourning his loss. I had the chance to attend game 2 of the NLCS and witness Oscar’s amazing talent including his home run! It was an awesome experience that I will never forget!
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The fanbase of the St. Louis Cardinals as a whole has lost an amazing player who was going to be great. My deepest condolences to the organization and family of Oscar Taveras. We will miss you number 18. Fly high and now you are watching down on everyone.
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Oscar, thank you so much for the commitment you gave our club. You were an amazing talent that has been taken too soon. It was absolutely amazing to have had the pleasure to witness u play with the Redbirds organization and your loss is deeply felt.
To the Tavares family, please accept my deepest condolences through this tough time. We r all thinking of you.
Julian(Canada)
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What a beautiful swing, what awonderful human being. Condolences from the bottom of my heart to Oscar’s family and friends. This feels like the loss of a close friend even though I never had the pleasure of meeting him. Oscar is with Stan the man and Jack Buck now, in whose company he surely belongs. RIP OT18, love you bro.
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