Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom OâBrien dies at 28
1901 â Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom OâBrien, 28, dies in Phoenix, AZ. A popular player with the Giants, OâBrien played for Pirates in 1900, then accompanied the Giants and Superbas last fall on a trip to Cuba for a series of exhibition games. On the boat trip over, he was told that if he drank enough sea water heâd be sick, but would then be cured of any sea sickness. Both OâBrien and Kid Gleason became violently ill following the prescription, but OâBrien was so affected that all his internal organs were damaged, and he never recovered.