Former Major League Baseball Star Jeremy Giambi was found dead by authorities at at his his parents’ home in Southern California on Thursday at the age of 47.
Authorities say they believe Giambi committed suicide, according to TMZ.
Giambi, who was the younger brother of slugger Jason Giambi, played six years in the majors with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox.
TMZ reported that authorities received an emergency call at 11:40 a.m. requesting medical assistance at the Giambi home.
They found Giambi dead when they arrived.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi,” the Athletics wrote on Twitter.
“We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends.”
We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi. We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/sBSEyRb2z4
— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) February 9, 2022
Statistically, Giambi’s best season was in 2002, when he played for the Athletics and Phillies. In 124 games, he hit for 20 home runs.
However, the younger Giambi may be best remembered for his part in a legendary baseball play and for being chronicled one of the most enduring portrayals of the sport.
In the 2001 American League Divisional Series, Giambi was running toward home plate when New York Yankees star Derek Jeter made his famous “flip play.”
As the New York Post noted, the throw to home had missed the cutoff man and Giambi appeared to have an easy score. However, Jeter “flipped” the ball to home plate, where Giambi was tagged out.
Furthermore, Giambi’s time on the Athletics was chronicled in Michael Lewis’ 2003 book “Moneyball” and the subsequent 2011 movie adaptation.
The book and film chronicle the 2002 Athletics’ season, after the franchise lost several key players — including Jason’s brother Jeremy — but continued winning despite a meager payroll due to the analytic strategies of general manager Billy Beane.
In 2005, he was one of the first active Major League Baseball players to admit using steroids.
“It’s something I did,” Giambi told the Kansas City Star. “I apologize. I made a mistake. I moved on.”