Brain cancer and the 1980 post season

I can't find a link on the Times' site, but the print edition has this bit of strangeness.

Common Thread for Rare Illness

To the Sports Editor:

The death of the former Philadelphia Phillies player John Vukovich of brain cancer represents the sixth man who participated in the the 1980 playoffs to have a documented case of brain cancer. Bobby Murcer, who played with the Yankees that year, is battling brain cancer. His manager, Dick Howser, died of primary brain cancer in 1987. Another player on that Yankees team, Johnny Oates, died of a primary brain tumor in 2004. The 1980 Yankees were beaten in the playoffs by the Kansas City Royals, whose star relief pitcher, Dan Quisenberry, died of primary brain cancer in 1998. The Royals were beaten in the World Series by the Philadelphia Phillies, whose star relief pitcher was Tug McGraw, who died of a brain tumor in 2004.

Brain cancer is a rare disease with an expected incidence of roughly one to two cases per 10,000 people. In an office building, six worker out of 1,000 with brain cancer would merit an epidemiologic investigation.

Dr. Cory Franklin
Chicago

The writer is an intensive care doctor at Stroger Hospital.