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 
While watching the World Series I could not believe my ears that Oscar had been killed in a car accident. What a waste. A young man that was on his way to greatness. He will be missed by so many people…not just family or Cardinal family, but the fans. His family will be in my prayers.
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Peace be with Oscar , his girlfriend and their families!!
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Im thankful to be a Cardinal Fan with players like you Oscar! RIP My prayers are with your family.
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We send our sincere sympathy to the families of both Oscar and his girl friend. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of all the Cardinal Nation.
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This young man’s enthusiasm, brilliant smile, good humor & playfulness were refreshing & heartwarming for our team & our fans. The fact that he could play baseball the way he did was a treat when he was “on” & something to look forward to in years to come. We welcomed him here & will miss his presence a great deal.
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For me, Oscar Taveras and his God given talents and abilities brought back for me memories of another Latin American born baseball legend, Roberto Clemente. Oscar may you rest in His peace. Vaya con Dios.
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Oscar Taveras and the family of his girlfriend. Such a tragic loss of two young people. Your baseball talent will always be remembered. Rest in Peace.
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On Sunday, Major League Baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals not only lost a great talent but a great man. Oscar’s willingness to improve himself on the field was indicative of how he carried himself in other areas of his life. I loved watching him play. I loved that he was in a Cardinals uniform. We loved him, and he will be missed.
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So many people will never get to know how great he really was. Watching him day in and out while in Springfield was such a treat and our son just loved him and loved to interact with. Our families heart goes out to those closest to him.
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RIP Oscar.Deepest Sympathy to the Oscar”s family.
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We shall meet, but we shall miss them, There will be the vacant chair,
But though we no longer possess them, Still our hearts their memory bear.
But a while ago we gathered, Now the golden cord is severed,
they have passed to realms on high.
They have passed into the light which is beyond the valley of the shadow of death.
The places that have known them shall know them no more:
but their virtues are written upon the tablets of love and memory.
Rest in peace Oscar and Edilia.
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Such a tragedy to lose a young and powerful player like you Oscar. I remember when I saw the first post about it and it seemed like a bad dream. I don’t know why it had to happen to someone with so much to offer so early in life. You were an amazing player only getting better by the day. You’ve left an ever lasting impression on everyone in Cardinal Nation and we’re all going to miss you. I know you’re up there playing on the Field of Dreams with everyone this organization has lost. You definitely earned your wings, your Cardinal wings that is. Next season is all for you, watch over the boys up there! RIP OT!
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We Will Miss You Oscar!! You Are One Of MY Favorite Baseball Players Ever!
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My thoughts and prayers to Oscar’s family. This young man with so much promise was taken much too soon.
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I am saddened by the loss of such a talented and young man. My thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort go out to Oscar’s loved ones.
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I am so sorry to Oscar’s family about their loss.
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The buzz had always been about him. When we traveled through Springfield on a trip through Missouri in 2013, the talk was always on him. His power, his ability, his swing. Man, that swing. It was decisive. It was absolute. It has been silenced. No more will we hear his bat crack on the ball.
In May, I replayed a video of that decisive swing in his 2nd ML at bat. Not since Pujols. Maybe even less effortless than “El hombre”. Perhaps Pujols saw it, too, as he gifted him with a bat in a locker room visit.
“Look at that swing.”, I exclaimed to my daughter. “Expect more of that to come,Gaby.”
I wish I had recorded all of his swings. I wish I had recorded his last AB in game 2 against San Fran. Man…..I wish.
Siempre el tópico de conversación. Cuando pasábamos por Springfield en el 2013, siempre era el tópico principal. Su potencia, su habilidad, ese “swing”. Dios, ese “swing”. ¡Qué decisivo! ¡Qué absoluto! ¡Sin duda! Nunca jamás. Sólo queda el silencio. Nunca más escucharemos ese sonido del contacto de la pelota con el bate.
En mayo, veía un “replay” de su batazo la segunda vez que apareció. Wow. Recuerdos de Pujols me venían a la mente. A lo mejor no le costaba tanto esfuerzo como Pujols. A lo mejor Pujols lo vio, también, como le regaló un bate en una visita al vestidor.
“Fíjate en esto,Gaby.”, le dije a mi hija. Podemos esperar mucho más de él en el futuro.
Ahora pienso en sólo hubiera grabado todas sus visitas al “plate”. Ojalá haya grabado su último jonrón cuando tuve la oportunidad de ver el partido #2 contra los Gigantes. ¡Ay! Ojalá……ojalá..
Mi más sentido pésame a su familia, a sus amigos, y a mi equipo, los Cardenales.
En paz descanse – Óscar.
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I am so sad at the loss of this talented young man. I keep thinking about him reaching the major leagues and just starting to feel what it is like to do well and get to the highest level in the game he loved only to lose it all. I am sorry for his girlfriend’s family as well–such a devastating loss for both families.
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What a young man. How blessed we were for the time we saw him up with the CARDS. Such a sweet smile for everyone. God bless your family.
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My condolences to the entire family including the complete brotherhood of the MLB. A great loss to an up and coming athlete and baseball player.
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Baseball is more than just a game or a job to me. It is about being apart of a growing family whether you are brothers that play in different league such as the Royals or the same league like the Cubs and to grow with loving, loyal fans. If one team has a loss, all of baseball has a loss. We set aside that there is a game going on to show our respect. Taveras was a young Cardinal and being a die hard Cardinal fan it is nice to see other fan bases show their condolences. It is a reminder to live one day at a time. Rest in piece Taveras’s girlfriend, thoughts an prayers to the family an friends. Taveras, may you rest in piece as well. Fly high red bird and do not stop soaring with the angels.
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You were such a blessing to this world- you will never be forgotten.
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When I read this a few nights ago my jaw immediately dropped. I was hoping it was a hoax. But was it? No. It’s very sad. My dad told me when the cardinals got him he was gonna be there new Pujols hitter. I was so excited because Pujols is my favorite player. It’s hard to believe he’s gone. I only got to go to one game while he was a cardinal. But I’m thankful I saw him that one time. I think when they announced the line up that day, July 4, 2014 and they announced “Oscer Taveras” I was the loudest person cheering. Not many people cheered for him. But I did. If the cardinals would have made it to the World Series Oscar Taveras would not have been involved in this wreck most likely. But if it was his time to go. There would’ve been another way.
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A sad reminder that life is precious and short. As a Pittsburgh Pirate fan, Oscar was one of those guys I was looking forward to seeing develop over the next few years and competing against for a very long time. From me and many members of Bucco Nation, we extend our deepest condolences to Oscar’s family in the Dominican and the entire Cardinals Organization. As a good friend of mine always says, “there are more important things in life than baseball.” May God bless Oscar and may his soul rest in eternal peace.
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Dear Oscar, my heart is broken. May you and your beloved friend walk the valley high above hand in hand for eternity. Opening day; right field will never be the same. You will always be remembered and missed at the same time, if that’s even possible. R.I.P. ( Return If Possible ) God bless🙏
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Great player to leave too soon from baseball world!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sorry…..
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As a 22 year old kid myself, seeing Oscar live out his dream, albeit for the short time that he was able to, is an inspiration. I never got an opportunity to meet Oscar or even see him play in person, but it feels like I lost someone that I had known forever. I will always remember Oscar, and his legend will forever remain with us in Cardinals Nation. I sincerely hope that the Taveras and Arvelo families find the peace and serenity that they deserve.
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A tragic loss to a player that just scratched the surface in flexing his talent.. One of the saddest days in Cardinal Nation since Daryl Kile. One has to wonder if Cardinals advanced into the W.S. he would’ve been in the dugout at that time instead of the D.R. which makes their elimination that much harder to swallow…
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I am sitting here still trying to find words of condolence to all those affected by the untimely death of a young man with such potential as a baseball player and his girlfriend undoubtedly so glad that he was home again after a long season. I pray that through the tears and healing God shines down upon family and friends left behind and that Jesus be there to comfort you and give you the strength you need each day. May you hold dear memories forever close in your heart. RIP #18 Oscar Taveras and Edilia Arvelo. May your lives together in heaven be blessed.
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It was hard when Pujols left the organization, but you know what made that feeling go away? It was Oscar. He made his departure much easier knowing that we had a future start in such a young man. From day one, when the Cardinal’s signed him as a 16 year old, I knew he was destined for greatness. Those 7 years in the organization have made him a big name, and that homer in Game 2 solidified your place in the game. We like to think athletes as immortals, coming up big in the spot light. Oscar was immortal for those 7 years. The ball came off the bat differently, that crack of the bat was like no other. Combine with his violent swing, produced a sound that gods could only create. He was like no other. A career that is now shrouded with :what if’s and what could have been” will be in many people’s minds, but the legacy he left is what’s important; a young man with a big smile and a passion for the game. Yes those “what if” thoughts will be racing through my mind, but I will cherish those games I was able to see him play. He accomplished a dream that millions of men his age are not able to. I will never forget the way you introduced yourself to the major league world with your first home run. Your final homerun helped the cardinals win game 2. Not a bad way to leave OT. My condolensces to the his family and the girlfriend’s family as well.
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As Cardinal Nation we have lost a fine young player but heaven gained a beautiful Cardinal. Happy Flight.
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I sit here crying about the death of a person I never knew, because of the love and passion for the game he showed, and the power his nature had on millions of people he had never even said a word to. RIP Oscar Taveras, a great talent, and a great person taken far too soon.
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Thoughts and prayers to the 2 young lives lost. RIP Oscar. Thanks for the memories, even if it was a short time here with us. May you be with all of Cardinal nation in spirit and inspire others in the ways you gave us as a shining light in this world.
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It was a pleasure watching you play, and you made it exciting to watch. I started collecting your cards… Such an honor
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Love you and miss you Oscar Taveras.
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Correction to my last post “All i could think about is when you would get a chance to be in the show”
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I remember when they brought you up against my SF Giants and you hit that home run off Petit. The way you hit the ball out, the form of your swing reminded me of all the greats, Jackson, Bonds, Aaron, Sosa, Mays, “Big Mac” etc. I knew right then you were destined to be a star in this league. Even your foul balls were great to watch.
You left this world way too early! May you and your girlfriend rest in peace and may God comfort your family in this time of mourning.
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No matter what anyone else said about you, I always believed that you would be one of the most special players to have ever played this game. From the moment I watched you take a swing, all I could think about is when you would make you would get a chance to be in the show, and when you finally did make it and take your first curtain call, there was no doubt in my mind that you were my favorite player. RIP Oscar (and Edilia) “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die” I’ll miss ya buddy.
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Buen Dominicano, un buen ejemplo de superacion y de que si se puede llegar. Gracias a los cardenales de St. Louis por darle la oportunidad de jugar para ustedes y demostrar su potencial.
R.I.P Oscar Taveras.
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My sincerest deepest condolences go to the families of Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend. Although he was only here for a short period of time, his light shone brightly in the way that he conducted himself as a professional baseball player. May your happy memories sustain you in this time of grief. God bless.
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Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends as well as his girlfriend. Very sad so young and a promising future.
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God Keep You Forever Young Man. Thanks For Sharing The Talents He Gave You With Us. Your Life Was Exceptional.
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My prayers are sent to oscar taveras family and to his girlfriends family. Both were taken to soon. We all will remember you forever.#18
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Thoughts and prayers to Oscar’s family. RIP Oscar.
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From a SF Giants fan and a mom of three (including a 22yr old) I send my prayers and thoughts to Oscar’s family. God bless you.
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Just as we were getting to know Oscar, he was taken from us too soon.
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My Heart is with you, Family and friends of Oscar, from A Giant fan…
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To the families my prayer s are sent. Thank you for sharing oscar with cardinal nation andthe world. Hes playing ball with the dean bros stan the man n being bbroadcast by jack buck now
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