I find it weird that I'm personalizing this so much.  It's not like I know him personally, but I guess after following the team so closely for the last 17+ years, it's hard not to.

Something like this makes all that other stuff not seem so important anymore...

RIP, Josh.

He told police that his emergency lights were on, and that he honked his horn when he saw the Explorer approaching in his rear view mirror, but that the Exploer didn't slow down or swerve to avoid the collision.

At the time of the accident, the tow truck driver was assisting a motorist from an earlier accident.

RIP Josh.

My heartfelt thoughts and condolences to all who have been affected by this tragic accident. In times like this, we aren't rivals, we all stand together as baseball fans and as human beings.

 -- Al from Bleed Cubbie Blue

This is just horrible. I will be praying for the Hancocks and all of the Cardinals family.

It is an unfortunate tragedy that is incredibly sobering. It reminds us of what is truly important in life and gives us perspective. The team's struggles are insignificant in comparison.

Make sure that those who are close to you know how you feel about them.

Nope, it was Josh Hancock. Unreal.

DK's got someone to play catch with tonight. I hate these moments.

I'm not one for prayers and such, but my thoughts are certainly with Josh's family and with the Cardinals.

Rest in peace.

MLB did right to postpone tonight's game. ESPN can put something else on it's air...

Prayers for all concerned; including the members of Cardinal Nation who are in shock right now (including me!)

This is terrible, RIP Josh.

I can't believe that Izzy, Tony, Dunc, and the rest have to do this again.  

On another note, thanks to all the Cub fans who've come to express their thoughts and prayers.  People talk about which rivalry is the best in baseball -- I'm not sure if any Red Sox or Yankees fans would do what the Cubs fans have done if they had to deal with this sort of tragedy.  That's what makes this rivalry the best.  The Cubs and, in particular, Joe Girardi have never been forgotten by Cards fans for that June day 5 years ago.

RIP, Josh Hancock.  You have been a tremendous competitor and a stand-up Cardinal.  You will be missed.

It's amazing how hard a death on the team can hit you. It almost feels like family. I guess that's Cardinals baseball for you.

Josh, you will be missed.

You watch these games, see these guys almost everynight for 6 months and while you know it's silly to feel some sort of 'bond' towards them since they'll never know you and you'll never know them personally, something like this still hurts like someone you were close to is gone.

RIP

Hancock was born in Cleveland, Miss., and attended high school in Birmingham, Ala., before attending Auburn University.

I had no idea Josh was a Tiger.  I graduate from Auburn in 11 days, so I've lost a member of both the Cardinals' family and the Auburn family.  Unbelievable...just...unbelievable.

Once again, RIP Josh, and War Eagle.

Kind of puts everything in perspective, doesn't it?

My thoughts are with Josh's family, friends, and teammates right now.

A shining example of what it means to be a Cardinal.

He will be missed.

RIP Josh

I pray for his family and his Cardinal family.

Josh was one of our Band Of Brothers from last year, and will be immortalized as such.

i am proud to be a cards fan, but today, we are just baseball fans, and have had a loss, i really want to thank the cub and red fans who have come here to express their condolences

RIP, Josh.

Something about how these guys died "while in the harness" that makes a fan's head just spin.

"Josh, you'll be sorely missed. Please rest in peace.

Say hi to Jack and Darryl for the rest of us.

Go crazy, heaven...go crazy.

-Kevin"

and on that, RIP Josh, I guess god just needed a righty reliever...

one last thing, someone asked me right after my dads accident in 02 how my family could belive in a GOD who allows tragic events to happen to good people. the simplest answer is this. bad things happen to good people because they are the only ones strong enough to handle them. the Cardinal family was strong enough to handle losing DK, and we are still strong enough to handle losing Josh. it may not seam fair, and it won't be easy. but the Cardinal family will get through this.  each and everyday as I help care for dad I know GOD is watching over and taking care my family. and I know now he is doing the same for the Hancock family.

goodbye Josh.

p.s. thanks to all the fans of other teams for your kind words and prayers. especially cub fans.

Condolences to Josh's family and friends.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

Unreal that it could happen twice, specially in the same series against the same team. I'm just glad this time it waasnt on my wedding day.(DK)

I still can't wrap my mind around this.

Visit this blog a lot because of the intelligent baseball talk and just wanted to give you my condolences to the Cardinal Nation! Sorry to hear this. Don't know what else to say...

RIP

SeoulStro

Josh, thanks for all you did for the Cardinals - your teammates, the front office, the fans.  We're all blessed by your have worn the "birds on the bat."

Aweseome to see all the posts from fans of other teams.  God's blessings on you all.

My thoughts are with Josh's family and friends, and with everyone in Cardinals land: the organisation, Mr. TLR and the technical staff, the players, the fans and the VEB-community.

Josh, rest in peace!

He'll be missed, and remembered.

Reading the AP story, I kept re-reading Jeff Weaver's quote.  Like all of you I've been basking in the glow of a World Series victory and lionizing Weaver despite him leaving the team.  To think of him today as just a guy who lost a friend is hard.

Another heartfelt thanks to the other organizations and their fans who have shared their thoughts and offered their condolences.  That's true sportsmanship.

To An Athlete Dying Young

Josh was clearly a nice guy and a good teammate, and the way fans and players from around baseball have come together on this really warms my heart. We'll all miss him, whether it's the Cardinals family, the MLB family, or the family of fans out here.

R.I.P.

I started thinking about DK. How odd(? is that even close to the right word?) and combined both of these two tragedies are...

It is weird; the first text I got this morning woke me up around nine and was "Whats wrong with the Cardinals pitchers during Cubs series?" I chalked it up to "they suck?" and hit the pillow to keep sleeping off a massive hangover. Twenty minutes later, another text from another friend: "Sorry to hear about Josh." What? I need sleepy. Ten minutes later, another text: "Sorry to hear about your guy. Best." Seriously, what the fuck? As I got up to check my e-mail, one last text from one of my buddies: "So we can now say we saw the accident that killed Josh Hancock. Fuck."

Fuck. Flash back to 6/22/02 and my celly waking me up from a super hangover at noon in north carolina. My buddy Nate is at Wrigley. Sounds like DK died last night. Fuck.

Really just a surreal day. I know the "best fans in baseball" bullshit is played out ad naus, but it really does feel like a friend or cousin just died. He got picked up by the Birds, loved St Louis. Moved here in the off-season, went to Blues games, was out at bars all the time but never did the d-list vip treatment. Just dug being a Cardinal, a St Louisian.

Just a dude, happy to play a game for a living.

I know the grinders make up 80% of MLB, but we dont hear about them enough. Just fucking happy to be there. I like guys like Josh. And we would not have won the Series w/out him. I wish I knew more about him while he was still around.

I'm voting for him to be a post-hum "Darryl Kile (Good Guy) Award " winner for '07.

What does the worker gain from his toil?  I have seen the burden God has laid on men.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil -- this is the gift of God.