Allentown's Bauldree Dies in His Sleep
May 29, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Portland Forest Dragons News Release
DURHAM, N.C. - Allentown Ambassadors right-handed pitcher Joe Bauldree of Wake Forest, N.C., died in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at an apartment in Allentown, Pa., where he lived during the season.
A funeral date had not been set. Bauldree, 25 and a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., had a history of an irregular heartbeat.
The Ambassadors postponed a scheduled doubleheader with the Adirondack Lumberjacks until Thursday.
"Joe was scheduled to pitch on Thursday," Allentown manager Darrell Evans said. "We want to make sure he does. He will be in our thoughts and prayers whenever we take the field this season, and I know he would have wanted us to go out and play."
Bauldree is survived by his mother Carol, father Tommy and older brothers Mike and Tom.
The 2002 season was Bauldree's eighth in professional baseball. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the 1995 draft. He pitched for four seasons in the Braves organization reaching as high as Single-A Macon (Ga.) before being released prior to the 1999 season.
The independent Nashua (N.H.) Pride of the Atlantic League signed him for one game in 1999 before he went to the Northern League's Massachusetts Mad Dogs. Bauldree pitched for the Northern League's New Jersey Jackals in 2000, the Ambassadors in 2001 and the Atlantic League's Camden (N.J.) Riversharks in 2001.
Bauldree made one appearance this season versus Berkshire on May 25. He gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.
A memorial fund will be set up in Joe Bauldree's name. For information on how to contribute, call the Ambassadors at 610-437-6800.
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