Trivia: Although Brian Cox and Dennis Quaid play father and son in this film, Cox is only eight years older than Quaid.
Trivia: When Jim is making his debut at The Balkpark in Arlington, the Devil Rays are wearing their current jerseys. Their current jerseys came out in the 2000 or 2001 season. The movie was shot in 1999 when they had different jerseys. However, at the end where the shot is of Jim's D- Ray's jersey is hanging at the high school, it is a 1999 hat and a 2000 or 2001 jersey. Tampa Bay never had that jersey combo.
Trivia: When Jimmy first arrives in Big Lake, the movie theater marquee lists the movie playing as Bang the Drum Slowly, a 1973 movie about a major league pitcher and catcher that form a friendship when traveling on the road, mirroring a lot about the friendship formed by Jimmy and Brooks.
Answer: It's never fully revealed, it seems David and his brother were playing, probably doing something that requires parental supervisor and was unable to save him. Again, probably David was the older one and his father believed he should have known better.