Baseball Star Johnny Mostil’s Shocking Suicide Attempt During The Prime Of His Career

Summary

Johnny Mostil, a prominent MLB player in the 1920s, attempted suicide during the peak of his career due to undisclosed reasons, which led to a premature end to his time in the major leagues, though he continued to have a successful career in the minors and later in baseball-related roles.

Abstract

Johnny Mostil was a star center fielder for the Chicago White Sox, known for his batting skills and speed on the field. Despite his success, including finishing second in the MVP race in 1926, Mostil's career took a dramatic turn when he attempted suicide in 1927. The incident occurred amidst personal health issues, including chronic nerve pain and dental problems, which led to him being perceived as a hypochondriac. After a violent self-inflicted injury in a Shreveport hotel room, Mostil's life hung in the balance, but he recovered and returned to baseball. Although he never regained his major league status, he remained a significant figure in baseball, scouting for the White Sox and contributing to his local Illinois community until his death in 1970.

Opinions

Mostil's story highlights the mental health struggles that can affect professional athletes, challenging the assumption of an easy life in professional sports.
The public and media perception of Mostil's health issues as hypochondria may reflect a lack of understanding of mental health at the time.
Speculation about the reasons for Mostil's suicide attempt, including potential romantic entanglements, suggests a tendency to seek sensational explanations for tragic events.
Mostil's ability to forge ahead after his suicide attempt and continue working in baseball demonstrates resilience and a deep commitment to the sport.

An MLB MVP candidate shockingly and mysteriously tried to end his life right when his career was at its height

It’s easy to assume that being a professional baseball player is the foundation of an easy life, but that can be far from the truth. No matter your vocation in life, mental health is real, even years ago. This is eviidenced by the story of former big-league star Johnny Mostil, who had emerged into one of the biggest stars in the game before a shocking suicide attempt in 1927 started the early end to what was shaping up as a remarkable big-league career.

A right-handed center fielder, Mostill was essentially the Chicago White Sox’s replacement for Happy Felsch, a member of the infamous Black Sox, who threw the 1919 World Series. Mostil spent his entire 10-year (1918; 1921–1929) major league career with Chicago. A speedy defensive player, he was also quite handy with the bat. In 972 career games, he batted a combined .301 with 23 home runs, 375 RBIs and 176 stolen bases.

Mostil led the American League in stolen bases twice, and walks and runs scored once. After finishing seventh in MVP voting in 1925, he followed that up with the best season in his career the following year. His .328 batting average, four home runs, 120 runs, 41 RBIs and league-leading 35 stolen bases propelled him to finishing second in the MVP race behind George Burns of Cleveland. Just 30 years old at the time, it appeared that he was in his prime with much more success to come, but in truth he was headed towards a catastrophe and the final games of playing in the majors.

Unfortunately, heading into the 1927 season, Mostil’s health had deteriorated to the point of distraction. In addition to chronic and constant nerve pain, he also kept experiencing dental problems. Instead of gaining him sympathy, his maladies began earning him the reputation of a hypochondriac, even reaching the press.

Things reached a head when the outfielder traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana for spring training and checked into a hotel. At his very first batting practice, he was struck in the chest with a ball, causing him considerable pain. After being checked out by a doctor, it was reported to Chicago catcher and team captain Ray Schalk that his teammate was in pretty bad shape.

Fortunately for Mostil, practice the following day was canceled due to rain. He was believed to have spent most of the day dozing in his room before visiting teammate Red Faber and Faber’s wife. Finally, he visited the room of Pat Prouty, a close friend and super fan of the White Sox. Prouty wasn’t there, but when he returned he found that the player had let himself in, locked the door from the inside and done horrible harm to himself. Mostil was laying in the bathroom in a puddle of blood. When he was later examined, he had stabbed and cut himself 13 times on his chest, throat, arms, legs and neck with a pocket knife and straight edge razor.

A scene quickly ensued, as several of Mostil’s teammates heard the commotion and attempted to give him aid until proper help arrived. It was said that his injuries and loss of blood were so significant that it was feared he might not survive. Friends and family alike were shocked by his actions.However, he recovered relatively quickly, getting out of the hospital at the end of March.

A reason for the suicide attempt was never determined. There were rumors that it was related to his medical conditions and pain, but also possible romantic disappointments, including speculation that Mostil had been having a relationship with Faber’s wife (that rumor was never substantiated in any way).

Ultimately, Mostil returned to the White Sox on the field by the end of the 1927 season, collecting two singles and an RBI in 16 at bats. He hit .270 in a full-time role in 1928 before ending his big league career after just 12 games in 1929. He continued successfully playing in the minor leagues, being a consistent .300+ hitter for the next decade.

Following his playing career, he scouted for the White Sox for 20 years and was involved in philanthropy in his local Illinois community. He remained in professional baseball in some capacity until he was 70. He passed away in 1970 at the age of 74. Whatever the reasons that contributed to his near-death experience as a young man, although it may have hastened the end of his major league career, he was able to forge ahead and make baseball his life’s work.