Thinking about beanings.

By: Mike Sommer

The Cervelli beaning today brought to mind some beanings I read about or recall.

The first famous beaning I remember was the one that curtailed Tony Conigliaro’s career. Tony C. was just 22, had 100 HR already but missed the 1967 Red Sox stretch run and the WS due to his mid-August 1967 beaning. It cost him all of 1968’s season and shortened his career.

Ray Chapman of Cleveland is the only fatality. 1920 at the Polo Grounds vs. the Yankees.

Lou Gehrig got beaned in 1934 and played the next game to continue his streak. But it was in a strange way. On the road, Gehrig was pencilled in as SS, leading off. He walked and the regular SS, Frankie Crosetti, took over at SS. It was just to keep Gehrig’s streak alive.

Don Zimmer has a plate in his head after almost being killed with a few beanings.

Phil Rizzuto, I believe, was the first to wear a batting helmet in the AL—due to some beanings.

I remember a beaning Munson took in 1978, not to mention Dwight Evans and Paul Blair getting beaned.

Of course the Piazza beaning by Clemens comes to mind.

It’s a part of the game you worry about, and you never know when it may happen.

Thank goodness for the helmets.      

Sommer Frieze is a blog dedicated (mainly) to the Yankees. I'll touch on other things as well and the blog (as much as possible) will not only have Yankees news but also follow the Yanks' farm teams. Come visit at Sommer Frieze.

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