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The second scariest play in baseball
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Jimmy Rollins
In 1887 MLB instituted the Hit by Pitch rule. A batter hit by a pitch was awarded a ball. Later, when pitchers began to throw overhand the batter was awarded first base.
Hit By Pitch rules are simple. First, the ball has to hit the batter. Second, the pitch has to be outside of the strike zone. Third, the batter has to make an attempt to get out of the way. Finally, the batter cannot swing at the pitch.
In 1920 Ray Chapman was killed by a pitch that struck him in the head. He remains the only player to die in such a way.
Hughie Jennings holds the major league record for most times being hit by pitches in a season at 51 times and in a career at 287 times.
Walter Johnson hit a record 203 batters in his career. Gaylord Perry hit the fewest per batter faced at .49%. Pittsburgh Pirate hurler Doc Ellis once tried to hit every Cincinnati Red in a game in 1974. After throwing two pitches at Johnny Bench’s head he was removed from the game.
Today, a hit by pitch often results in retaliation or a bench clearing brawl. In the American League pitchers are immune from retaliation because they don’t have to come to bat. This is the outcome of the DH rule. Thus, more hit by pitch batters charge the mound to seek revenge upon the offending pitcher.
In my opinion throwing at a batter’s head is nothing short of attempted murder.
I call this the 2nd scariest play in baseball because the only thing scarier than seeing a batter hit in the head by a pitched ball is seeing a pitcher hit in the head by a batted ball.
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