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Does education matter? Major League Baseball players and longevity.
1Department of Economics, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257, USA. dekali@ship.edu
Death Studies
|September 14, 2007
Summary
Major League Baseball players with only a high school education had double the death risk compared to those with university degrees. Race and higher body mass index also impacted longevity in these athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
- Biostatistics
Background:
- The relationship between education and health outcomes is well-documented in the general population.
- Professional athletes may represent a unique cohort for studying longevity factors due to distinct lifestyle and health profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the determinants of longevity among Major League Baseball (MLB) players.
- To examine the influence of educational attainment on the mortality risk of professional baseball players.
Main Methods:
- Duration analysis was employed to assess player longevity.
- Data from MLB players born between 1945 and 1964 were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Players with only a high school education exhibited a hazard rate of death nearly twice as high as those with a 4-year university education.
- Race and body mass index were identified as significant factors associated with mortality risk.
- MLB players demonstrated a lower death rate (31% of expected) compared to the general population.
Conclusions:
- The education-health gradient is observable even in professional athletes, suggesting factors like intelligence and time preference may mediate this link.
- Educational attainment is a relevant factor in understanding longevity within professional sports.
- Further research is warranted to explore the complex interplay of education, lifestyle, and health in athletes.
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