Baseball Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter Dies At Age 86

Aug. 12, 2002

Baseball Hall of Famer and former Duke baseball coach Enos Slaughter died Monday at 12:44 a.m. at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. He was 86.

Slaughter, from nearby Roxboro, had been hospitalized since July 25 and underwent two surgeries to repair his colon and perforated ulcers in his stomach. In late May, he also began chemotherapy and radiation treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His recent surgeries were unrelated to the lymphoma, his family said.

"We felt dad was comfortable and was not in any pain. All of his daughters and sons-in-law were with him and when he passed we were singing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game.' I had told him, "Daddy you're rounding third and it's time to go home now,'" said Slaughter's daughter Gaye Currier, who also is a nurse at Duke Hospital. "We would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at Duke University Medical Center for all their kindness and their care of my father and his family while he was hospitalized. They have just been wonderful."

Slaughter's funeral will be held Thursday in Roxboro with services at Allensville Methodist Church.

Slaughter was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1985 following a 19-year major-league career from 1938 to 1959. Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics and Milwaukee Braves, Slaughter had a lifetime average of .300 with 2,383 hits and 10 All Star Game appearances. He is perhaps best known for his dash to home from first base on Harry Walker's hit in the deciding game of the 1946 World Series to help the Cardinals defeat the Boston Red Sox.

Slaughter served as head coach of the Blue Devils from 1971 to 1977.

Baseball Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter Dies At Age 86

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