As long-time advocates of safer sports for kids, we have repeatedly called for a ban on all metal baseball bats. It was with sadness that we learned about the young suburban Chicago 12-year-old who died in a freak accident from a brain injury while playing the sport he loved.

Eric Lederman, of Oswego, collapsed last week after a baseball hit him in the neck during a game.  He suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage and died within 24 hours. The situation is a reminder of just how dangerous youth sports can be.

While deaths in youth baseball are rare, so are studies on the matter. One study authored by a University of North Carolina professor found that 13 boys between 5 and 12 died playing Little League baseball between 1987 and 1996. That’s an average injury rate of 1.69 per 1,000 participants.

Another study by USA Baseball, whose members range from T-ball to college level, found there were 39 deaths out of 82.6 million participants in the sport between 1989 and 2006. While the sport may seem safe, that’s little comfort for the parents of children who have been catastrophically injured or have died. 

The study showed other interesting facts:

• The younger the age group, the more relatively frequent the injuries came from practice rather than the game itself;
• Also, with the younger players, there was a higher frequency of injuries during warm-ups and post-game horseplay.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has reported that most injuries involve being hit by a ball and that players aged 9 to 12 are at the highest risk of suffering an injury.

To prevent injuries, organizers of youth baseball leagues have implemented additional safety measures during the last decade. But sometimes, it’s just not enough.