How did Rick Hummel die? Cause of death explored as beloved St. Louis Cardinals writer passes away

Renowned baseball columnist Rick Hummel, nicknamed "The Commish", passed away at the age of 77 early Saturday morning. Hummel battled with a short, aggressive illness that caused him to die in his sleep.

His death will be a great loss to the world of baseball.

He will be remembered for his detailed and vivid description of countless incidents in baseball, keeping his readers well-informed on the subject. Hummel covered baseball at the St. Louis-Post Dispatch for five decades.

Arguably no one knew more about the Cardinals than him and he was willing to share all his knowledge with his readers.

Regarding his death, Roger Hensley, Post-Dispatch sports editor said:

"This is a devastating loss for our P-D family and especially to all of us in the sports department. Commish was our glue and our compass in so many ways. And, most of all, he was a beloved friend to all of us. I will greatly miss all the time and conversations we shared.

"There was only one Commish and he gave all of us he had for so many years. It's just a terrible loss for all of his family, friends, and Cardinals nation."

Hummel's wife Melissa said he died peacefully.

Rick Hummel's sportswriting career

Rick Hummel at a baseball game

Rick Hummel was one of the most knowledgeable people in Cardinals baseball. Throughout his tenure, he wrote on the Cardinals' three World Series championships, six MVP seasons, 11 managers, and seven National League pennants. He was named President of the Baseball Writers Association of America in 1994.

In 2006, he was also awarded the Baseball Writers Association of America's Career Excellence Award. It placed his name and achievements in the writer's wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. In 2007, he also received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. He was named "Missouri Sportswriter of the Year" three times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

The Cardinals and the baseball world, in general, will mourn the loss of a writing legend.