Im lost right now and the only place I can think to come right now is here to grieve with my fellow halo fans. Im truly heartbroken right now.

This is the kind of thing that hits the hearts of baseball fans around the country. I know even as a fan of a different team I was looking forward to watching this kid pitch in the future. What a tragedy.

This morning I attended the funeral of a friend of mine who just lost a 5 year battle to cancer. He was 24 years old. After the funeral my roomates and I went to grab a bite to eat and talk about Nate’s life. He had been a teammate of my roomate’s on the 2000 ND state champion baseball team. Just as we sat down I looked up at the television and saw the news.

RIP Nick. You will be missed.

Angels just postponed tonight’s game.

May GOD bless you
You will be missed
And THANK YOU

I have no words to express my sadness. I feel for his family, for the Angels family, for all Angels fans, and all fans of baseball. I’m glad they canceled the game tonight, and I hope the team can move forward from here. I know it will be difficult. This is no way to usher in a new season of baseball.

You said what exactly what I think we’re all feeling. My heart goes out to his family, his friends and everyone touched by him.

your eloquent words speak for all of us.and thank you to all the fans around the country and your support. we are all together today

I feel like someone with a billion dollars just robbed us at gunpoint of our last 5 dollars….ugh

You got the waterworks going again…

If you will allow me, God bless you. You’ve captured well my own first reactions well, and it helps to see them so poignantly expressed when my own words are failing me so badly right now. My condolences to his loved ones.

I mean he was RIGHT THERE, live on my computer screen, 15 hours ago. His 6th inning was awesome. 7 pitches, all strikes. I get a call 3 hours ago from another halo fan telling me to turn on sportscenter, Nick Adenhart’s been killed. It just…it’s tragic, and so goddamn RANDOM.

Words can not capture the feelings that I’m sure we’re all sharing right now… but, Rev, thanks for doing the best job I’ve seen.

Nick, you will be forever missed, R.I.P.

my heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to everyone who knew him.i feel like the someone who rev wrote about… RIP Nick Adenhart 1986-2009

I really hope that we see a ton of Adenheart shirts and Jerseys around the park for the rest of the season. It will be a sign of not only being a fan, but a member of a community and a family.

i’ve been crying all morning, and now have to try to hold it together at work.

we’ll miss you, Nick. i’ll always remember what you did and what you could have done

What a incredibly depressing few days :(
I can’t believe it. We saw him play not even 24 hours ago…
He did such a great job too…
22… same age me … man…

RIP Adenhart. :(
Thanks for the great post Rev.

i was just at the game last night. i heard an interview with him and Rex before the game. this is just so unreal right now i cant believe it

The thing I can’t wrap my mind around, or the thing that is surreal, I was at the game last night. I just keep going back to that, I was at that game, and now Nick is gone.

Everyone was so young, so there is a lot of loss being felt all around. Three lives taken all at once, plus one seriously injured. Also the beating of Brian Powers has ended in someone leaving us way to early with too many hurt left behind.

I’ll be wearing my Angel red the whole weekend.
I feel closer to you and OUR Team

I’ve felt numb all morning. Your eloquence is why I like this site so much and why I check in everyday. You said how I feel. So thank you again. My condolences to Nick’s family…

i think that everyone should do this out of respect for Mr. Adenhart

i’m a visiting cardinals fan, and having hancock and kile die within five years of each other, i can’t express enough condolences to the angels community. this takes an amazing amount out of a team, a city, and a community. i’m terribly sorry for the loss.

and they already took Adenhart off wow this hurts

You expressed whats in every fan’s heart.

I just heard about this heartbreaking news about half an hour ago, and the first place I wanted to read more was here. I knew people would be feeling the same way I do right now. Completely awful.

RIP Nick.

Very nicely written

Commissioner’s Statement

It’s hard to explain how we can feel the loss of a man most of us never met and only some of us saw live (I never did). He was the future, though, and a kid I konw we all rooted for, and I can’t tell you why, but like many others, I really am heartbroken by this loss. That four people died because of one idiot…

and i’ve cried just as much this morning as i did when i found out about my friends. these players really are part of my extended family, a part of my life. this is unbelievably hard to deal with, but seeing fans from all over the country, regardless of rivalries and such reach out, i’m starting to cope.

RIP Nick Adenhart, you will be sorely missed!

well said Rev…….also my heart goes out to the familys of tha passengers in Nicks car. From what i have heard they are all local OC kids.

I am so saddened by this. I mean, I didn’t know the guy, but he was part of our team. OUR BOYS. I feel like someone has cut off my arm.

only 22 years old :/ RIP nick.

this was a really moving article rev.

Well said.

Thanks for those great 6 innings last night, I’m glad I was there for them.

very, very well said. Thanks, Nick for being an Angel. We will not soon forget you.

beyond all the heartbreak, and sadness that comes with the territory is that I’m truly glad that that stupid piece of shit driver fled the scene so I can watch him spend the rest of his life in prison.

Nick was one of my favorite prospects from the moment we drafted him. I met and shook hands with him back in Spring Training ‘08, and have his autograph on a ball that sits on my desk. I’ll best remember him, I think, as the first player I ever realized the Angels had that was younger than myself. I remember seeing his birthday and thinking “holy crap, this guy is gonna take a mound one day and make me feel old.” That, of course, makes this loss sting all the more harshly. Not just because we’ve lost an immense talent and a great young man, but because I had long thought about watching Nick come up through the system, and mature into a staff ace all at the same age as myself.

And then I remember watching the game last night. Watching him work his way in and out of trouble all night, with the composure of a veteran. And I remember the last time I guess I “saw” him alive, when the camera was on him between the 6th and 7th innings, knowing he wasn’t coming out for the next inning and just thinking how great it was to see such a great talent take the next step forward, and how awesome it was for him to (probably) pick up the win for his effort. And now that’s all ruined by, of all people, another kid younger than myself.

The only survivor of the brutal car crash that killed 3 people, including pro baseball player Nick Adenhart, is currently in critical condition at the UC Irvine Medical Center.

We’re told Jon Wilhite, a former baseball star at Cal State Fullerton, is moving his legs, but is currently receiving treatment in the medical center’s Intensive Care Unit.

TMZ

for your guys’ loss and especially for the loss to his family. It is completely unfair you guys had a great talent stolen from you and his family had a great individual stolen from them. What this Gallo idiot did was inexcusable but at least he’ll be able to consider what he did with a new found sobriety through (hopefully) the rest of his pitiful life in prison. Again, from a Cubs fan used to dealing with pain—gallows humor I know—my deepest condolences.

Captured it perfectly.

God bless you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Reading this thread — and the obvious devotion and fan love shown by it — brought a few tears to my eyes as well. You are a tribute to him.

Finally, after all these years, I think I have the perfect name and number for my jersey.

I am sorry for your loss, I watched the game last night he was a true talent. My thoughts and heart go out to you fans, as well as his friends and family. Rest in peace.

if you care to see it:

http://deadspin.com/5205745/man-who-caused-adenhart-crash-had-prior-arrest-record

im still having a very, very hard time with all of this.

all morning for this post. I knew that you, Rev, would write something so honest, so fitting, so perfect that it would provide me with just a little bit of comfort on this sad day. You didn’t disappoint.

Thank you.

Just awesome. My heart is heavy today.

    One thing I know is that there is another angel in heaven. Another star in the sky.

Beautifully written, Rev. Thank you for sharing something so honest.

I don’t necessarily think a league-wide #34 arm patch tribute would be out of line here.

to offer my sincere condolences and prayers to all of the Angels organization and fans. And most importantly, to Nick’s family and friends and the family of the other victims.

It was a privilege to watch this young man for the brief time we were able. RIP Nick.

Any word on who the other people were in the car with him? Friends? Family?

Dropped by to offer my genuine condolences. My thoughts are with his fans, family and friends.

Rally in front of the stadium tonight folks… spread the word! No, I am not organizing it, but just thought I’d see if we can get out there to show our love for the Adenhart family.

From the LA Times:

It is almost unfathomable that any one team, especially an expansion club that has only been around half as long as most major league teams, could experience so much pain and agony through the years. This is just part of the depressing list:

— ln 1968, relief pitcher Minnie Rojas was permanently paralyzed and his wife and three children were killed in an off-season car accident.

— In 1972, Chico Ruiz, a 33-year-old utility infielder, died in a car accident.

— 1974, Bruce Heinbechner, a promising, young, left-handed pitching prospect not unlike the right-handed Adenhart, was killed in a springtime car crash.

— In 1977, 23-year-old shortstop Mike Miley, another top prospect, was killed in a preseason car accident.

— In 1978, All-Star outfielder Lyman Bostock was driving in a car in Gary, Ind., stopped at a traffic light, when someone in another car shot and killed him.

— In 1985, the two-year-old son of pitcher John Candelaria died after being in a coma for months following a swimming pool accident at his home.

— In 1989, three years after throwing the fateful pitch that Dave Henderson hit for the ninth-inning home run, which turned the ALCS in Boston’s favor, reliever Donnie Moore shot his wife, seriously injuring her, and then killed himself.

— In 1992, the Angels team bus, traveling from Yankee Stadium to Baltimore, careened off the New Jersey Turnpike, injuring several members of the club, including Manager Buck Rodgers, who was hurt the worst.

Lyle wrote a great article about Nick today, he seems pretty broken up about everything.

Rally Monkey

Nick was finally on his way to becoming a diffefence maker for the Angels. He will be missed by all Angel’s fans. It is very hard to understand why these types of things happen to such outstanding young men. Hopefully everyone will remember Nick and the standing ovation he received walking off of the field last night. Nick had finally become a major league pitcher for our Angels and he will be missed by all.

This is just so terrible…
He had so much ahead of him… he will be missed. :’(

Thanks for the words Rev. I visit this site daily, but haven’t posted for a long time. My thoughts go out to the families of all involved and hope that something positive can come out of such a horrible tragedy. Thanks for the six innings last night Nick. I created a new account and screen to remember an Angel that should never be forgotten.

over from the AZ Snakepit. Just wanted to pass along our condolences on this senseless tragedy.

As a Redskins fan, after going through the heartbreak caused by Sean Taylor’s murder, I can appreciate the pain even ordinary fans can feel in times like this. Hopefully, Adenhart’s teammates will excel this season in his memory.

To me, that is a good way for us Angel fans to mourn the loss of a star-to-be.

Very nicely put. My condolences to all who loved, knew, and cheered for Nick. Like many of you, I’m sick after hearing this. I’ve been bothered all day, knowing that if the game ended earlier or later or…too many what ifs and what might have beens.

Almost exactly a year ago, my girlfriend, cousin, and friend of 15 years were involved in a car crash that was very close to being as tragic as this one. This brought back memories that I never wanted to relive. I feel for the families of the victims, and my heart aches for them.

I had the pleasure of meeting Nick three times in the past couple of years. Twice when he was pitching in Triple-A for the Salt Lake City Bees, and once less than a month ago during spring training. He was always very respectful, seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and gladly signed autographs for anyone who asked.

Rest In Peace, Nick. You will always be in the hearts of us Angels fans, as well as many, many others.

The 3rd victim of the tragic car wreck that killed baseball star Nick Adenhart has been identified as 25-year-old Henry Nigel Pearson.

Henry, who was also a baseball enthusiast, was friends with the only survivor from the Mitsubishi — John Wilhite.

According to reports, Pearson was a law student who wanted to be a sports agent.

The Angels were in BALTIMORE (somewhat near Nick’s hometown) on August 24, 1986, Nick’s birthday. McCaskill got the W and Donnie Moore the save. Joyner DeCinces and Boone got the RBI’s that won the game.

I attended both his debut and his first victory games last year 5/1 and 5/12, respectively. I cannot believe that fact eluded me.

I would like to extend my condolences to Nick’s family and friends, everyone involved with the organization, and its fans, as well as the family and friends of the other victims.

To lose anyone at such an early age and in such an incomprehensible manner is both tragic and heartbreaking. To lose someone like this young man with such promise is even more so.

Rest in peace Nick, you’ll never be forgotten

I just got home and turned on ESPN and this news is scrolling across the screen. I Can’t believe it. First it says the Angels cancel tonight’s game and I think what the hell for? Then the line that Nick had died scrolled across the screen. I just could’nt believe it. I had to come to Halos Heaven to actually believe it was true.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Nick Adenhart and his family. What a huge loss for so many people this will affect.

Again, I can’t express to you how sorry I am for the loss of a young pitcher like Adenhart; I was looking forward to him being a part of many A’s/Angels rivalries to come. Everyone over at Athletics Nation is simply crushed; I’m just heartsick over this tragedy, and I’m very, very glad he pitched well last night in front of his dad. Something like this is bigger than baseball, and it affects ALL of us who love the sport.

Take care, Angels’ fans. I’m so very sorry.

—baseballgirl (Athletics Nation)