Steve Bechler
Encyclopedia
Steven Scott Bechler was a Major League Baseball
pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
in 2002.
Steve Bechler died of heatstroke at the beginning of spring training
with the Orioles in 2003. An autopsy performed by Dr. Joshua Perper
concluded that that "the toxicity of ephedra played a significant role" in his death, along with "'abnormal liver function and mild hypertension', his weight problem and the fact that he was not used to south Florida's warm weather". He was using the supplement ephedra
, against the advice of his trainer, and probably had not eaten in two days in an effort to lose weight. Bechler was married and the couple was expecting a child. A small scholarship fund was set up in his memory.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in 2002.
Steve Bechler died of heatstroke at the beginning of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Orioles in 2003. An autopsy performed by Dr. Joshua Perper
Joshua Perper
Dr. Joshua Perper is a forensic pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner in Broward County in the United States who has gained both national and international notice for his work on several high profile autopsies.-Professional:Perper was born in Bacău, Romania and he escaped the Nazis during World...
concluded that that "the toxicity of ephedra played a significant role" in his death, along with "'abnormal liver function and mild hypertension', his weight problem and the fact that he was not used to south Florida's warm weather". He was using the supplement ephedra
Ephedra
Ephedra refers to the plant Ephedra sinica. E. sinica, known in Chinese as ma huang , has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold...
, against the advice of his trainer, and probably had not eaten in two days in an effort to lose weight. Bechler was married and the couple was expecting a child. A small scholarship fund was set up in his memory.