Cancer-stricken boy dies

Press, 24 August 1977, Page 8

Cancer-stricken boy dies

NZPA Hammond (Indiana) A 12-year-old boy who had terminal bone cancer for there years and was not told, found out about his condition on a national baseball telecast two weeks ago. The boy Scott Crull, died on Monday; He discovered the extent of his illness after a family friend’s efforts to cheer the boy, with a call from a Chicago Cubs baseball player, went awry. The friend contacted the Cubs and told them of Scott's condition. He asked if a team member could call Scott. At the request of a team official, outfielder Bobby Murcer called Scott on August 8, before the Cubs nationally televised game at Pittsburgh. He told Scoft he

) would try to hit a home run for him. >1 Murcer did even better r and belted two homers. But t| the fairy-tale preformance 5] soon turned to tragedy. After Murcer’s homers, a commentator, Keith Jackson, 1 who had been informed by a Cubs statistician, told the t national audience of the pre- ’ game telephone call. He also ; said Scott was dying of can- - cer. , Scott was watching at the time and found out what his » parents had kept from him f for three years. | After learning of the sev--1 ere nature of his condition. Scott spent a very bad ' night, said his father, Mr Crull. J What was supposed to be t;a boy’s dream turned out to e,be a tragedy.