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 
It’s unfortunate to see such a fascinating player and human being taken from us. Oscar was poised to great things, both on the field and off. Thank you for sharing your life! RIP #18
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My heart breaks as I write this, I almost have no words. Oscar, you will be missed by so many and you were so so loved by Cardinal Nation. We were truly blessed to have you be apart of this family, because that is what we are. Your greatness you showed and memories you gave us will always be remembered. RIP Sweet Angel 💜
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Prayers and thoughts of peace to the families and loved ones these two left behind too soon. Your St. Louis family will keep you in our hearts. ♡
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This is a tragedy not only for all of baseball and the Cardinals organization, but also for Oscar’s friends and family. I am praying that God will grant them comfort in their time of sorrow.
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When young people die, it’s a tragedy no matter the circumstances. When Oscar died, it was a loss felt especially hard by anyone who follows baseball and knew of this promising young talent who was going to grow and mature and be a star and a member of the baseball family for years to come. The unyielding finality of his death is hard to comprehend at this point. It doesn’t even seem real at this point. I offer my condolences to the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization and to the families of Oscar and Edilia. Mi más sentido pésame.
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my name is Christine and I am a Cub fan. However, my heart goes out the the Cardinals and their fans. Taveras was a young superstar in the making. My heart also goes out to his family and the family of his girlfriend as well. May God bless all of you!
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Such a great talent that played for a great team. You will be missed but never forgotten.
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Always a Cardinal, always in our hearts.
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The Woodcox family is very sorry for your loss…
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I was in shock upon hearing this news last night. Certainly it must be a mistake, I thought. There are no words to express my sadness. Oscar, you and your beautiful girlfriend left us far too soon. There was so much more to be done, and so much more of life to live. You were just getting started.
We were lucky to have a glimpse of you…..but that glimpse sure was not enough.
Sending prayers to both your families, may you truly be in “baseball heaven.”
Godspeed, Oscar.
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Oscar was one of my favorite cardinals to watch this year. I don’t get to go to a game every year, but this year I was fortunate enough to see our home series against the Red Sox. We were 4 rows from the right field fence were Oscar was playing. I loved seeing such a close group of misfits coming together during a “rebuilding year” and making to the NLCS. That just shows how tight our team is and my prayers are with his teteammates, family, and the rest of Cardinal Nation. Gone but not forgetten, OT!
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Matheny was right in everything he said in his statement… we are a family… we love those guys… even when they don’t play to the level we think that they should or could… we still love them… they are part of our family and we are part of their “baseball family”. God bless Oscar Taveras, his girlfriend, and all of the families involved. RIP OT18.
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RIP Oscar, you will always be in our hearts!
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I can remember after his first hit, everyone forgot about the rain and thought of the wonderful career ahead of Oscar with the Cardinals organization. It was wonderful but just too short. Praying for his family, friends, and teammates.
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Prayers and thoughts going to the st.louis cardinals and to Oscar’s family.
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My thoughts and prayers go out to Oscar and his family and friends..I have been a big Cardinal fan for many years and losing a teammate is like losing a member of the family..RIP Oscar
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I’m sorry for your loss. He was truely a great player who could have gone far. I never got to see him in person but I saw him on tv all of the time. Oscar was so young and deserved a longer life.
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A sad time for Cardinal Nation and ALL families. R.I.P., Oscar. Condolences to both families……..
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As a Cards fan here in the UK, I’m saddened by the loss of such a young man who, I believe had a bright future not only for the team but MLB as a whole. My thoughts and prayers are with Oscar’s family, friends, fellow teammates, the Cards Organisation and MLB.
R.I.P. Oscar.
You’ll be missed but not forgotten.
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Ánimo, y donde estés, se feliz
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As a fan of course I never personally knew this young man. He appeared to be a baseball player with a future, and his attitude always seemed to be one of respect for the game and his team. To his family and friends, I am sure he has joined the many players that have gone before him. He was very young to die, but we do not get to choose our “time”. Condolences and sympathy.
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So very sorry for the loss of a life so very young. My deepest sympathies for the family, friends, and teammates involved. My God bless them all with comfort and understanding.
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Rest in Peace Oscar Taveras and Edilia Arvelo. Oscar was loved throughout the Cardinals organization and will be deeply missed. Not only is this a baseball life cut short, but a life in general. 22 years old. Hard to believe.
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Prayers to Oscar’s family, his Cardinal’s teammates, and his girlfriend’s family. This is so tragic and know they all are heartbroken. I pray good memories bring some measure of peace to them. God Bless.
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My tribute: http://mlbdailyroundup.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/a-farewell-to-a-future-star/
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This is a sad time for the St. Louis Cardinals, family and friends. We all mourn your loss, and we will miss you Oscar. May you be at Peace and I pray for your family and your girlfriends family. She can not be forgotten either, as she was with you in the accident that took your life. You were so young and you will remain forever that way.
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May you Rest in Peace OSCAR. Thanks for all you have done for Cardinal Nation. Prayers and blessings go out to your family in a devastating time like this. #CardinalForLife
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It was a total shock to hear the sad news of a talented young man taken too soon. God bless his family and the Cardinal Nation.
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everyone in Cardinal Nation was excited when we heard about Oscar. The anticipation was electric. When he came up finally it was with great expectation. When he hit his first home run it was awesome. I won’t forget. To his family I pray he is now in the Lord’s hands seeing all of the amazing things in heaven. I hope the Lord also gives you peace as do I pray for the family of the young lady who also died at such a tender age.
To our Cardinal players I’m praying for all of you as well. I know this has shaken you all to your core. God is the only one who knows why this happened. Take care of yourselves and always keep Oscar in your hearts. During 2015 make his dream of another winning season come true. As that is the dream of all players and fans in Cardinal Nation. God bless you all
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So sad. You will be missed by all! Thank you for all the fun and help you have brought to us cardinals. Say hello to Stan for us! Love and miss you! Just remember once a cardinal always a cardinal! You maybe gone but never forgotten! Thank you Oscar so much! I’m sure your having a wonderful time with God and Stan! RIP.
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I was one of 44,446 fans at Busch Stadium on May 31 to see you hit your first major league home run. It was a rainy day with two delays of 48 and 51 minutes. Your solo shot in the 5th inning provided all the run support the Cardinals would need for a 2-0 win. I will be forever grateful I was there to witness this wonderful day for you.
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I’ve thought about why the death of Oscar Taveras stings so much. Part of such a loss, is seeing the hope of greatness go unfulfilled. A greater part though, I believe, is here-in St. Louis, the Cardinals are the binding thing that brings so many of us together. Our lives are shared with the team, over passing summers as we watch them grow, sometime succeeding and others falling. We, all the while do the same. While few of us know the players, we invite them into our homes, our radios, our lives. The invitation extended, it always seems the players acknowledge the bond we share. They become part of our lives and somehow we are part of theirs, tied by a shared love and respect. It’s a crazy thing, that a game…baseball, could bring together so many. And much like a family, we share and embrace the joys. And now the sorrow and pain. It’s the promise of a young man, brilliantly gifted, that is torn away, the hopes of greatness that, but for a brief summer we were able to glimpse. And so, Oscar, you will be missed. Not because of what you had to offer or bring to the city, but because you were a Cardinal. And that meant for so many of us, you were part of the family. Goodbye 18…you will be missed.
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I know it’s crap. I’m not a writer, I’m just trying to cope with this grief. Based on “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” (Yeats).
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere along the road ahead
Wreckage gristle can’t approximate
The game for which I cried and bled
A bird, a bat upon its chest
My city’s red fraternity
A Gateway to the lonely West
The West a whole eternity
Montreal’s streets aren’t Puerto Playa’s
No dollar signs led to this track
No five-star meals would reach as high as
the wooden bat’s resounding crack
The outfield grass, the champagne spray
Those years were all I bore in mind
As I, like they, drifted away
From the windy, rainy road behind
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Hardly crap. That was good, well written, and struck a chord. Well done. A fitting tribute.
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I am still in shock. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Taveras family, his girlfriends family, the team, and all of Cardinal nation.
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To all Involved, the Families of Both young Kids That “God” Came Calling for. May “God” Be with you and Always.
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The first time I saw him with the big club, I could see his exuberance through the TV. He was genuinely happy to be there and worked extremely hard. Such a short time on this earth. Condolences to both families and all affected by the loss.
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My sincere condolences to the Taveras Family and his Team mates. You will be missed. Thank you Oscar for being a big part of the Cardinals and always being a Cardinal. Fly high Freebird.
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Absolutely shocked and saddened…he is the same age as my sister so it makes it hit close to home. What an extraordinary talent and beautiful swing lost just as he was making a name for himself. Hug your friends and family and tell them you love them because it can all be gone in an instant. My heart is with the team, All of cardinal nation, all of MLB and the families of Oscar and his girlfriend. This hurts. Rest in peace el fenomeno
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It’s always sad to see someone so young and full of life being taken so soon from this world. I remember jumping off my couch when Oscar hit his first home run, bringing down the rain, as well as his pinch hit home run in the NLCS. I guess the good lord above decided he needed a new right fielder. RIP Oscar, you will always be a part of Cardinal Nation.
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Oh…i feel so bad for Oscar and his girlfriend! Hearts just ache at a time like this. My heart felt sympathies to both families, his friends, and his team mates. It’s a hard day.
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Oscar brought that “wow” factor back to the game,when the cards needed it! He made watching the game exciting again,always got pumped when he was on the days lineup. Prayers for his family,for the cardinal family,and all the cardinal fans,truley a shining star put out way too soon. RIP Oscar,you will be missed.
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It’s a tragic time, not only for Cardinals Nation, and BOTH family’s, but for MLB as well. To the Tavaras family, may God Bless you, and keep you, and make his light to shine upon you. Your son was loved more than you know. Yes, he was a fantastic ball player wit more potential than any of us had ever seen! But, he was also an outstanding young man, and he was one of us….. Family!!! And, to MLB, on behalf of Cardinals Nation, we want to thank you for the outpouring of love and sympathy. The general concensus is that MLB lost a beloved son, not just the St. Louis Cardinals. Sometimes it takes such a tragedy to make us all forget the bitter rivalries, and come together as one family of fans. Maybe that will be your true legacy Oscar. If nothing else, it truly shows the class of the family, organization, and sport you represented. Gods Speed Oscar Tavaras….. You will be greatly missed, and not forgotten.
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Still attempting to find the words that express how I feel. Watching you come up from the minors, anticipating your big moments in the Majors it has been an amazing process. Feeling that joy of watching your home run in the NLCS this year I remember thinking “he is the real deal”. Cardinals fans have struggled with losing Albert who had that “natural swing”, the pain finally subsided watching you work as one with the bat. Now it is even worse as we lost you completely, but even worse we lose seeing your moments, getting to be a part of your life. Oscar your legacy, your work, your dedication will not be forgotten. You will always be a part of Cardinal Nation, and now we will all anticipate sitting with your girlfriend watching you hit homers in heaven. Thank you for the moments, my thoughts and prayers go out to your family, your girlfriends family, the Cardinal team management and office, and the entire Cardinal Nation. We may mourn you today but we will always celebrate the joy that you brought us.
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For years I’ve been looking forward to seeing Oscar play in the big leagues, and now that he’s gone, I’d give anything just to see one more at bat. St. Louis Cardinals baseball is one of the most important things in my life, and it hurts me to have lost such a beautiful soul. I can’t even imagine the pain his friends, family, and teammates are going through. My prayers are with the families of Oscar and his Girlfriend, their friends and their beautiful baby. Heaven gained a beautiful soul and a beautiful swing. You will be missed, Oscar.
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This is so hard for me to comprehend as a devoted Card fan, I can’t imagine what the team and the rest of Cardinal nation is feeling right now. So young, so talented, my heart breaks for his family and his girl friends family. RIP Oscar, know that we loved what u did for our team and are saddened for what we have lost.
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Such a young amazing player. My heart goes out to his family. RIP Oscar Taveras … you will be missed by #cardinalsnation
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Thoughts and Prayers are with the families of Oscar, his girlfriend, as well as his teammates and the Cardinal organization. Being from Springfield I watched Oscar play here in AA aswell as in the Futures game in KC before the All Star Game! Thanks for the memories ! You will be missed.
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My Condolences to Oscars Family, I know you miss him and we will also miss him.
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God bless Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend. Such a sad ending to two very young lives. My heart goes out to both of their families and friends and to the Cardinals Baseball Organization for losing this wonderful young man. Oscar was just in the beginning of what was promising to be a great baseball career. He would have gone very far in his career and as a Cardinal fan, I will miss him on the team very much. Rest in peace and know that you were loved.
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I can’t believe this is true! But R.I.P to Oscar Taveras! Didn’t even get to see his true potential! Sad day in Cardinal Nation! Now that’s go win the Series next year for the memory of Oscar. #RIPOSCAR #12in15
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