Brad Halsey, who gave up Barry Bond‘s historic 714th homer, died on October 31st of this year. The judge on his case ruled his death was because of a 100-foot fall, and in a recent article by Josh Peters of USA Today, the question of suicide or accidental fall is asked, in addition to shocking revelations that Halsey may have been on cocaine and other substances when he gave up the infamous home run to Bonds.
Halsey pitched in the 2002 College World Series, and with several other teams, including the New York Yankees, before signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers in 2009. After Los Angeles let Halsey go after spring training, he signed with an independent team (Long Island Ducks). Teammate Ron Flores claimed Halsey displayed signs of anger and paranoia, and even went missing for six days in June of 2009, before returning. Halsey played in independent ball and signed a minor league deal with the Yankees before ending his professional baseball career in 2011.
In the summer of 2014, police were called about Halsey reportedly throwing rocks at people near the Comal River. When the police arrived, they found Halsey chest deep in the water claiming he was “Lucifer.” He also stated he was ready to fight “Mitch”, but witnesses said they saw no one else around Halsey.
A few months before the incident at Comal River, two friends of Halsey were told by Halsey that he had schizophrenia and bi-polar disease. It was in that conversation that Halsey said he was on cocaine and other drugs when he gave up Bond’s 714th homer, which Bonds with Babe Ruth for the second most of all-time. Halsey also mentioned how he had spent most of his earnings from baseball(close to $1 million) on drugs.
It’s a potentially sad ending to an even sadder story, if these findings are accurate. For more, read the eye-opening piece done by Josh Peters of USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/12/15/brad-halsey-new-york-yankees-cliff-dead-halloween-arizona-diamondbacks/20442185/
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