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Ray Chapman and Carl Mays
by: Michael Costanzo submitted: 03-03-2006

Throughout the course of major league baseball history, there have been millions upon millions of pitches thrown. Only one of these pitches has killed a man. This man was Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman. The pitcher was New York Yankees right-hander Carl Mays. The date of the unfortunate incident was August 16, 1920, right in the middle of a heated pennant race. A seemingly popular myth that still exists today is that the spitball was banned because of the Ray Chapman killing. That is false, as the spitball was banned in February of 1920, with the exception of two pitchers per team being allowed to continue throwing the pitch until it was eventually phased out.

Although connected by this baseball tragedy, Chapman and Mays were thought of about as differently as two players could be in the game. Mays, even before the incident, was one of the most disliked players in the league, despite being one of the games very best pitchers. Players complained for years that Mays would deliberately throw at them. His submarine like motion made seeing the ball almost impossible for a right handed hitter. In 1919, at a game in Philadelphia, against the A?s, May?s temper got the best of him. Fans pounded on top of the dugout so hard that he came out and pegged a ball into the stands, injuring two people.

Ray Chapman on the other hand, was extremely well liked by almost everyone in the game. He was always known to be smiling or laughing. He would often sing to his Indians teammates and was thought to be such a talent in that area that he considered a career in singing after baseball. A sad fact in Chapman?s death is that he had promised his wife that he would seriously consider retirement after the 1920 season was over. She thought the sport was too dangerous.

On the afternoon of August 16, Ray Chapman took his usual position in the batting order of second. The first pitch of the 5th inning to Chapman struck him in the left temple, sending him to the ground and sending the ball back to Mays. Thinking the ball hit Chapman?s bat, Mays threw the ball to first base for what he thought was an out. Chapman eventually tried to walk off on his own, but collapsed and was aided. Unfortunately, his skull was so badly damaged that surgery could not save his life in the end.

After the incident, Mays received death threats from angry fans. He partially put blame on umpire Tom Connolly for not putting the thrown ball out of play, since it was getting difficult to see. Many players around the league wanted Mays thrown out of baseball altogether. Teams even considered boycotting games in which he pitched, but nothing ever came of that. In fact, in his first start after the Indians game, Mays through a complete game shutout against the Tigers.

As for the Indians, Harry Lunte replaced Ray Chapman in the lineup. But soon he injured himself and Cleveland turned to unproven youngster Joe Sewell out of desperation. All Sewell did was hit .329 for the month of September in the middle of one of the most exciting pennant races to date in the American League.

With the memory of Ray Chapman still prevalent and his replacement Sewell playing great, the Indians found themselves in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Game 5 was one of the most memorable in series history as Elmer Smith of the Indians hit the first ever World Series grand slam and Cleveland 2nd baseman Bill Wambsganss turned the first and only unassisted triple play in series history. Cleveland completed one of the most emotionally taxing seasons in history by beating the Dodgers 5 games to 2 and becoming World Series champions.

Other MISC Articles
1. Scot S: General Baseball

Ray and Carl		03-04-2006 09:15
Ray Chapman & Carl Mays		03-03-2006 13:23

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