Ray Chapman was a member of America's favorite pastime well before most of us were born. Perhaps some of us have a grandfather that can recall the prowess of this man on the baseball field. His career began in 1912 at the ripe old age of twenty one. This s when he began making the moves that would make him a baseball legend.
It took little time for Chapman to prove what he could do on the field of play. He scored numerous walks and runs within six years of play. He led the league in sacrifices with his innate ability to bunt the ball and bring a teammate across the plate to score one for the Indians.
Originally called the Cleveland Naps, Kentucky born Chapman played his entire career as shortstop for the team. His short career was emblazoned with highlights that most players can only hope to achieve. In the 1918 ball season this man led the American League in both runs and walks totaling 84 each.
A good friend of Ty Cobb, other accomplishments of Ray's were batting .300 on three different occasions. He led his team in stolen bases a total of four times. From 1917 to 1980, this man held the team record of 52 stolen bases. Standing a mere 5' 10" tall what he lacked in stature he made up for in prowess as a player on the field.
It was common practice during these years of pro baseball to dirty up the ball in several ways. The worst the ball looked the better it was considered to be. Dark and dingy the baseball was difficult to see, and the ball that one could not see, one could not hit. It was this thinking that led to the death of Ray Chapman.
The Indian's were playing the New York Yankees on August 16, 1920. The opposing pitcher was Carl Mays. Ray came up to the plate and it is said that he often crowded it, looking for that perfect pitch. It is said that Ray never made a move to back away from the plate indicating the likelihood that he never saw the ball coming that hit him in the head. Mays retrieved the ball and made a throw to first base commenting that sound was that of the ball being hit by a bat.
Totally dazed, Ray was taken off the field with the assistance of some fellow players. He was hospitalized immediately but passed away twelve hours later on that fateful day in 1920. Yet another record had been broken by this man being the only baseball player in history to be killed by a pitched ball. This ended the use of 'spit' or dirty balls, but it took thirty more years before helmets were used.
The death of Ray Chapman was a wake up call to all baseball teams of that time. The spitball was outlawed and never used again. In the short eight year span that this man played baseball and the many records he held, it is felt that if it were not for his untimely death, he would hold records that would stand until to this day.
It took little time for Chapman to prove what he could do on the field of play. He scored numerous walks and runs within six years of play. He led the league in sacrifices with his innate ability to bunt the ball and bring a teammate across the plate to score one for the Indians.
Originally called the Cleveland Naps, Kentucky born Chapman played his entire career as shortstop for the team. His short career was emblazoned with highlights that most players can only hope to achieve. In the 1918 ball season this man led the American League in both runs and walks totaling 84 each.
A good friend of Ty Cobb, other accomplishments of Ray's were batting .300 on three different occasions. He led his team in stolen bases a total of four times. From 1917 to 1980, this man held the team record of 52 stolen bases. Standing a mere 5' 10" tall what he lacked in stature he made up for in prowess as a player on the field.
It was common practice during these years of pro baseball to dirty up the ball in several ways. The worst the ball looked the better it was considered to be. Dark and dingy the baseball was difficult to see, and the ball that one could not see, one could not hit. It was this thinking that led to the death of Ray Chapman.
The Indian's were playing the New York Yankees on August 16, 1920. The opposing pitcher was Carl Mays. Ray came up to the plate and it is said that he often crowded it, looking for that perfect pitch. It is said that Ray never made a move to back away from the plate indicating the likelihood that he never saw the ball coming that hit him in the head. Mays retrieved the ball and made a throw to first base commenting that sound was that of the ball being hit by a bat.
Totally dazed, Ray was taken off the field with the assistance of some fellow players. He was hospitalized immediately but passed away twelve hours later on that fateful day in 1920. Yet another record had been broken by this man being the only baseball player in history to be killed by a pitched ball. This ended the use of 'spit' or dirty balls, but it took thirty more years before helmets were used.
The death of Ray Chapman was a wake up call to all baseball teams of that time. The spitball was outlawed and never used again. In the short eight year span that this man played baseball and the many records he held, it is felt that if it were not for his untimely death, he would hold records that would stand until to this day.
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