The fact that I was a pitcher on the mound and had no opportunity to go to the Club House means nothing to these people. Below, excerpts are in italics along with my reactions. However, he did go public shortly after fateful pitch to talk about what had happened and the aftermath that ensued. The following morning, Chapman died from his injuries. It turned up in 2007 in Progressive Field and mounted properly in Heritage Park. New York Yankees pitcher Carl Mays held a recipe for disaster when Chapman strode to the plate in the fifth inning at the Polo Grounds. Although Chapman’s death was an accident, Mays became a scapegoat as a bad guy in the aftermath: “A ball player is not often called upon to discuss his own faults. Suppose, to meet some of these malicious slanders that have been directed against me, we assume that a pitcher is enough of a moral monster to deliberately murder a batter at the plate, a batter with whom he can have no particular quarrel and from whose death he could not possibly benefit. Much has been written on Chapman - a beloved teammate, his marriage to Kathleen Daly, daughter of a prominent business executive; and the mourning that enveloped the city. Related coverage: Indians pitcher Coveleski comes back after personal tragedy in 1920. Here are 11 things associated with Chapman, Mays and the 1920 season you might not know: Chapman loved baseball but he had confided to influential Cleveland News sports editor Ed Bang he was considering retirement though admitted it would be difficult to leave his teammates. With Chapman’s death being a first, it was likely a natural reaction to find someone or something to blame. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. That being said, his decision to hold back and not reach out to Chapman or his family only strengthened preconceived notions that he was an uncaring jerk who may have thrown the bean ball on purpose. At the time Chapman was hit, the Indians were ahead, 3-0. He left to be with family in Pennsylvania. Indians pitcher Coveleski comes back after personal tragedy in 1920, Chapman's grave site remains testament to Cleveland fans as well as player (photos). So, I decided to brace up and see what could be done.”. Chapman’s wife, Kathleen, was not at the hospital in New York when Ray died. All rights reserved (About Us). One of the most tragic events to ever take place on a baseball diamond was the 1920 death of Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman, who was hit …

The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. But Mays was unpopular even with his own teammates. I did not go to see Chapman after his death. Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians was hit 100 years ago on Aug. 16, 1920, and died the following morning. But I was naturally independent and if I found that a fellow held aloof from me, I was not likely to run after him. I wrote to her, however. After they knew me better, I was generally able to be on friendly terms with them. The Yankees Carl Mays threw the killer pitch, at the Polo Grounds in New York, on August 16, 1920. For could I have looked into the future, I would have seen trouble enough headed in my direction to satisfy the most ambitious trouble seeker who ever lived.”. But he tallied only 862 strikeouts in his 15-year career. But his numbers are not overwhelming. Physically, it was a battle. The White Sox were hot, the Indians hotter. Ray Chapman, star shortstop for nine seasons with the Cleveland Indians, might have ended up in the Hall of Fame had he not been fatally injured by a Carl Mays fastball on August 16, 1920, at the Polo Grounds. Are Hot and Cold Streaks Real in Baseball? It is a recollection of the most unpleasant kind which I shall carry with me as long as I live. In fact I lost all interest in my work.

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