Career
He would play for the Washington Senators, Saint Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. Goodwin was known for throwing the spitball, and he was one of the 17 pitchers allowed to continue throwing the pitch after it was outlawed in 1920. Goodwin crash landed his airplane at Ellington Field on October 18, 1925.
The accident occurred during a training exercise when he was performing reserve duty with the United States Army Air Service.
Goodwin, who had flight experience dating back to World War I, experienced a tailspin about 200 feet (61 meters) in the air. He was hospitalized with serious injuries including two broken legs.
His piloting skills were credited with saving him from immediate death. Goodwin died on October 21, 1925 from the injuries he sustained three days earlier.
He is believed to have been the first professional athlete killed as a result of a plane crash.
