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concluded that
Bechler's death was caused by a pre-existing liver condition, mild hypertension, his weight (he weighed 249 pounds (113 kg) upon arriving at spring training, and was exercising hard), the heat and humidity of the Florida weather, low food consumption, and the toxicity of ephedra.
468:; at the time, it was reported that he had been taking it to lose weight, though his widow said in 2020 that he had been using it as an energy supplement. While it was also initially reported that Bechler had not eaten for a day or two before his collapse, teammate
472:
later recalled that
Bechler had gone to dinner with teammates the night before, though he ate very little. However, Bechler did not consume anything aside from ephedra pills on the morning of February 16, possibly because he was running late.
539:. Bechler's parents started The Steve Bechler Athletic Scholarship in his memory, which provides $ 1,000 annually to a graduating South Medford High School baseball or softball player who intends to compete in college.
399:(ERA) with Bowie and 6–11 record and a 4.09 ERA with Rochester. At the end of the minor league season, the Orioles promoted Bechler to the major leagues. He appeared in three games for the Orioles, pitching
531:
against
Nutraquest, the manufacturers of the supplement, seeking $ 600 million in damages. The lawsuit against Nutraquest was suspended in October 2003 when the company filed for bankruptcy under
460:, Bechler collapsed while participating in conditioning drills. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died from multiple organ failure the following morning, at the age of 23. His
817:
594:
790:
665:
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1127:
Death at the
Ballpark: A Comprehensive Study of Game-Related Fatalities of Players, Other Personnel and Spectators in Amateur and Professional Baseball, 1862-2007
516:
dropped its previous objections to a ban, and
Bechler's parents testified in front of Congress. The FDA announced its decision to ban ephedra on December 30.
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in 2000. In 2001, he pitched for
Frederick, and was named a Carolina League All-Star. He did not appear in the All-Star Game, as he was promoted to the
256:, to Ernest and Patricia Bechler. He had one brother. At the age of seven, he began playing baseball. As a youth, he competed in the Medford American
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288:. He graduated in 1998. Playing for the school's baseball team, he was named to the All-Oregon third team in his senior year.
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Bechler was cremated, and on the six month anniversary of his death his wife, Kiley Mae Nixon, scattered his ashes on the
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444:. The couple had a daughter, Hallie, who was born in April 2003, two months after her father's death.
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opened an inquiry, which resulted in the banning of ephedra products in the United States. He and
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selected him in the third round draft. Bechler signed with the
Orioles, receiving a $ 257,000
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had reached 108 °F (42 °C). Against the advice of his trainer, he was taking
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268:. He was a member of the 1997 American Legion World Series runners-up. Bechler had
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631:"'Are we supposed to give up?': O's prospect Steve Bechler's family still grieves"
440:
On
October 22, 2002, Bechler married Kiley Mae Nixon at Community Bible Church in
1062:
500:, but not by Major League Baseball, where its use remained common among players.
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as a child, and endured multiple episodes of heat stroke while in high school.
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baseball team, Bechler was selected by the
Orioles in the third round of the
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By Glen R. Hanson, Peter J. Venturelli, Annette E. Fleckenstein p. 314.
361:. After struggling in two outings for Rochester, he was demoted to the
191:
44:
1098:"WEIGHT TO BEAR Obsession with shedding pounds led Bechler to ephedra"
413:
269:
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1096:
Quinn, T.J.; Red, Christian; McCarron, Anthony (February 23, 2003).
217:, Bechler made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2002.
391:
In 2002, Bechler pitched for Bowie and
Rochester. He had a 2–1
1218:"O's outraged as ephedra maker names team in Bechler lawsuit"
187:(November 18, 1979 – February 17, 2003) was an American
432:. He suffered a strained hamstring in his final appearance.
244:
are the only two Orioles to die while still active players.
122:
September 22, 2002, for the Baltimore Orioles
112:
September 6, 2002, for the Baltimore Orioles
935:"Bechler, Rogers join O's for 1st time as 5 are called up"
488:
At the time of Bechler's death, ephedra was banned by the
791:"CNN/SI – Baseball Draft – – June 1, 1998"
236:
contributed to his death. Following this revelation, the
1244:"2 Orioles pitchers testify in Bechler heatstroke case"
959:. Sports Illustrated. February 17, 2003. Archived from
595:
List of baseball players who died during their careers
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793:. Sports Illustrated. June 1, 1998. Archived from
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844:"Keys roster features two of Os' top draft picks"
1293:Career statistics and player information from
228:while participating in conditioning drills. A
983:"Pitching in pain, Bechler hurt by slam, too"
957:"Orioles' 23-year-old pitching prospect dies"
818:"O's give Bechler signing bonus of $ 257,000"
736:
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8:
1152:"Selig calls for talks on ban of ephedrine"
232:found that Bechler's use of the supplement
728:Sports Illustrated. Saturday March 8, 2003
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452:On February 16, 2003, during the Orioles'
384:to protect him from being eligible in the
252:Bechler was born on November 18, 1979, in
34:
23:
1063:"Untimely death spurred ephedra scrutiny"
929:
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765:"Rumrey named 4A baseball player of year"
742:"Parents: Bechler had problems with heat"
1174:"Brewers ban supplements from clubhouse"
1124:Gordon, Robert M.; Weeks, David (2009).
1034:"Steve Bechler's Death Five Years Later"
1002:
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846:. The Frederick News-Post. April 5, 2000
494:National Collegiate Athletic Association
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866:"Road to Triple-A not easy for Bechler"
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700:"Drug policy leaves Bechlers at a loss"
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888:"Ripe prospects mature in Fall League"
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1196:"Government announces ban on ephedra"
910:"Orioles arm selves, but gamble, too"
380:. The Orioles added Bechler to their
16:American baseball pitcher (1979-2003)
7:
313:. He made his professional debut in
1272:. Chicago Tribune. October 22, 2003
1176:. Midland Daily News. March 5, 2003
985:. Baltimore Sun. September 23, 2002
672:. February 28, 2003. Archived from
628:Connolly, Dan (February 27, 2020).
301:rated Bechler the best high school
1366:Deaths from multiple organ failure
1270:"Stimulant maker files Chapter 11"
1154:. Baltimore Sun. February 22, 2003
1008:"Camden closure for Bechler widow"
937:. Baltimore Sun. September 4, 2002
912:. Baltimore Sun. November 21, 2001
744:. Baltimore Sun. February 19, 2003
14:
1406:Sportspeople from Medford, Oregon
820:. MailTribune.com. Archived from
767:. MailTribune.com. Archived from
816:David Preszler (June 10, 1998).
698:Vecsey, Laura (April 30, 2003).
580:
568:
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293:1998 Major League Baseball draft
1130:. McFarland Press. p. 64.
490:International Olympic Committee
1391:Major League Baseball pitchers
1376:Drug-related deaths in Florida
868:. Baltimore Sun. July 16, 2001
328:that year. He pitched for the
305:from the state of Oregon. The
1:
763:Greg Stiles (June 17, 1998).
1346:Baseball players from Oregon
1198:. CNN.com. December 31, 2003
890:. USA Today. October 3, 2001
670:Southern Oregon Mail Tribune
510:Food and Drug Administration
238:Food and Drug Administration
213:. Following five seasons in
1396:Rochester Red Wings players
1371:Delmarva Shorebirds players
1311:Baseball Reference (Minors)
525:Oriole Park at Camden Yards
1422:
1386:Gulf Coast Orioles players
416:, in which he allowed six
1336:Baltimore Orioles players
1065:. ESPN. February 17, 2004
282:South Medford High School
207:South Medford High School
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1401:Sports deaths in Florida
1361:Deaths from hyperthermia
1356:Deaths from hypertension
506:Commissioner of Baseball
498:National Football League
476:An autopsy performed by
458:Fort Lauderdale, Florida
266:American Legion Baseball
82:Fort Lauderdale, Florida
205:After starring for the
1381:Frederick Keys players
514:United States Congress
797:on September 30, 2000
442:Central Point, Oregon
428:, and recorded three
339:in 1999, and for the
337:South Atlantic League
315:Minor League Baseball
215:Minor League Baseball
196:Major League Baseball
189:professional baseball
1351:Bowie Baysox players
529:wrongful death claim
359:International League
224:in 2003, he died of
185:Steven Scott Bechler
1103:New York Daily News
1040:. February 17, 2008
676:on December 2, 2016
378:Arizona Fall League
352:Rochester Red Wings
330:Delmarva Shorebirds
117:Last MLB appearance
1303:Baseball Reference
1224:. December 3, 2003
537:United States Code
397:earned run average
319:Gulf Coast Orioles
143:Earned run average
1248:The Baltimore Sun
1222:The Baltimore Sun
1084:Drugs and society
1038:The Baltimore Sun
1014:. August 18, 2003
1012:The Baltimore Sun
963:on April 17, 2003
824:on March 28, 2014
771:on March 27, 2014
480:Medical Examiner
374:Maryvale Saguaros
326:Gulf Coast League
307:Baltimore Orioles
291:Heading into the
280:Bechler attended
200:Baltimore Orioles
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174:Baltimore Orioles
75:February 17, 2003
62:November 18, 1979
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348:Carolina League
286:Medford, Oregon
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276:Baseball career
254:Medford, Oregon
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222:spring training
133:Win–loss record
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527:. She filed a
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370:Eastern League
341:Frederick Keys
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211:1998 MLB draft
198:(MLB) for the
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1274:. Retrieved
1264:
1252:. Retrieved
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961:the original
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795:the original
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769:the original
758:
746:. Retrieved
704:. Retrieved
678:. Retrieved
674:the original
669:
666:"Obituaries"
641:. Retrieved
637:The Athletic
635:
518:
487:
475:
451:
439:
395:with a 3.42
390:
386:Rule 5 draft
363:Bowie Baysox
323:Rookie-level
296:
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184:
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97:
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77:(2003-02-17)
72:
52:
43:
18:
1331:2003 deaths
1326:1979 births
643:January 16,
242:Tom Gastall
226:heat stroke
1320:Categories
1309:, or
1305:, or
1301:, or
1297:, or
601:References
533:Chapter 11
496:, and the
470:Matt Riley
430:strikeouts
248:Early life
153:Strikeouts
58:1979-11-18
1307:Fangraphs
1228:March 28,
1202:March 28,
1109:April 22,
1044:March 28,
989:March 28,
894:March 28,
850:March 28,
801:March 28,
775:March 28,
680:March 28,
563:Biography
502:Bud Selig
426:home runs
356:Class AAA
317:with the
107:MLB debut
1276:June 23,
1254:June 23,
1180:June 23,
1158:June 23,
1069:June 23,
1018:June 23,
967:June 23,
941:June 23,
916:June 23,
872:June 23,
828:June 23,
748:June 23,
706:June 23,
575:Baseball
543:See also
456:camp in
424:, three
367:Class AA
303:prospect
549:Portals
535:of the
466:ephedra
420:, four
414:innings
408:⁄
376:of the
365:of the
354:of the
343:of the
334:Class A
332:of the
321:of the
234:ephedra
220:During
192:pitcher
92:Batted:
45:Pitcher
1134:
587:Oregon
504:, the
492:, the
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264:, and
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98:Threw:
84:, U.S.
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448:Death
422:walks
166:Teams
147:13.50
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73:Died:
53:Born:
1299:ESPN
1278:2020
1256:2020
1230:2014
1204:2014
1182:2020
1160:2020
1132:ISBN
1111:2014
1071:2020
1046:2014
1020:2020
991:2014
969:2020
943:2020
918:2020
896:2014
874:2020
852:2014
830:2020
803:2014
777:2014
750:2020
708:2020
682:2014
645:2023
418:hits
1295:MLB
523:of
284:in
137:0–0
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