I've heard that 38 people die each year from licking a 9 volt battery. Can you really die from licking a 9 volt battery?

It's an urban myth.

Check out this 9volt battery death.
Read ALL of the article.
http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin1999-50.html

well, the human body can have but more rare of 100K(100,000) ohms to more than 500K(500,000) ohms. so do the extreme math at 10V/100K Ohms = .0001 amp. the less volts and the more ohms = less current. the above amount is FAR from fatal. so, unless the battery was tampered with, the tongue is dry and body is extremely dehydrated, then LICK AWAY. if at anything, its like charging your taste buds. scrape your tongue with your teeth and try to get the residue off. if you can get away from the metallic taste, place the 9-volt on your tongue for as long as you can. then try tasting that fillet Mignon, you'll taste the difference....