Batters getting hit by pitches is a big part of baseball. Just like crashes in auto racing.
Some nine year olds never recover from that first wallop in little league. Heck, it takes some major leaguers a while to recover … ask Justin Morneau (2005) and Sammy Sosa (2003) about it. Ray Chapman died from a beanball in 1920.
There’s lots of debate over intentionally hitting a guy … but it happens and it used to happen more often. And ESPN will show it without hesitation. And when someone gets really injured … well, heck – it’s news then.
Let’s take a look at some video of major leaguers getting plunked.
Craig Biggio
Let’s start with the Human Backstop … no one in modern baseball history has received more painful trips to first base than the future Hall of Famer.
Biggio was plunked in his (eventual) Hall of Fame career. He had 287 if you include two plunking in the playoffs. Amazingly, not once in Biggio’s career, did he ever charge the mound.
Here’s a particularly nasty one.
Alex Rodriguez
You knew A-Rod was going to be on this list.
You make more money than anyone else in baseball and you can expect to get hit every once in a while. A-Rod’s even been the victim of virtual beanball.
Here, noted headhunter Salomon Torres gets A-Rod.
How about another round? Walk it off, A-Rod.
Manny Ramirez
On May 9, 2005 … Oakland A’s starter Dan Haren just didn’t have it against the Red Sox.
After giving up a leadoff single to Johnny Damon and walking Trot Nixon on five pitches, Manny sees the first pitch … up close and personal.
Does Manny’s helmet ever stay on? It’s always on the ground .. after rounding third, running in left field, getting beaned …
Juan Rivera
It’s March 2006. The Angels are playing the Texas Rangers during a Spring Training game in Surprise, Arizona.
Spring Training is great. There’s a fun atmosphere, it’s warm in March, and it’s cool to watch Air Force jets occasionally fly overhead on training exercises.
But maybe you shouldn’t be paying attention to the skies while you’re pitching …
Derek Jeter
When you’re one of baseball’s reigning pretty boys, you should expect to get plunked every once in a while.
Here Jeter does his best Craig Biggio impression.
Unnamed Oriole Batter
The Yankees can dish it out too. From 2006, here’s either Scott Erickson or Cory Lidle coming a little too far inside on either Miguel Tejada, Jeff Conine or Kevin Millar.
Barry Bonds
Some players stride to the dish wearing full battle armor on their elbows. This way you can crowd the plate without worrying about getting hurt. Heck you can even lean into it a bit.
The all-time Home Run leader falls into that category.
Watch as Barry Bonds barely feels this one.
Sometimes … even the catcher is susceptible to getting beaned by the pitch. A White Sox batter (looks like George Bell) calls time out … and the pitcher doesn’t see it in time to stop his motion.
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February 13th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Brodie Greene from Texas A&M got hit in the face with a pitch last season while facing either Nebraska or Oklahoma State. After the game the other team’s trainer came and asked A&M’s coach if No. 4 (Greene) had all his teeth.
Was back in the lineup about two weeks later.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
[...] Home Run Derby: Taking one for the Team [...]
March 21st, 2008 at 9:13 pm
the one about the Yankees and Orioles was Scott Erickson hitting Jeff Conine