Mark Littell Cause Of Death

Royals and Cardinals pitcher Mark Littell, who spent nine seasons in the big leagues, died earlier in the week (Sept. 5) at 69.

What was Mark Littell’s cause of death? Littell died following a heart surgery.

Littell pitched in the Major Leagues from 1973 to 1982 for the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals and achieved a lifetime ERA of 3.32 and saved 56 games from 1976 to 1981.

Littell was primarily a relief pitcher and he served at the Royals’ closer in 1976–1977.

He is best remembered for giving up a walk-off home run to New York Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss to end the 1976 American League Championship Series. It was only the second home run he allowed in more than 100 innings pitched that year.

Two years later, the Royals dealt Littell, along with catcher Buck Martinez, to the Cardinals in exchange for relief pitcher Al Hrabosky.

On August 10, 1981, Pete Rose recorded his 3,631st hit off Littell to become the National League’s all-time hits leader.

Littell wrote three books and also invented the NuttyBuddy protective athletic cup, even giving demonstrations.