1990 - Former Red Sox star Conigliaro passes away
After a prolonged coma precipitated by a stroke, former Red Sox star Tony Conigliaro dies at the age of 45. Known affectionately as "Conig," the Massachusetts native is best remembered for his dramatic comeback season in 1969, when he returned to the diamond more than a year after an errant pitch nearly ended his career.
During a game against the California Angels on Aug. 18, 1967, Conigliaro was struck in the eye by a pitch from right-hander Jack Hamilton. The grisly injury is succinctly recalled in Bob Ryan's tribute to Conigliaro:
I remember the hush. The sound of silence from 31,027 people is an eerie sensation. There was no hubbub, no low buzzing, as Tony lay at the plate. He wasn’t popping up and running to first base. That was obvious. It was also obvious something very bad had just taken place.
“It was a ‘squish,’ ” Rico Petrocelli told me seven years ago. Rico was the on-deck hitter that evening. “It was like a tomato or melon hitting the ground.”
People had worried Tony C might someday be hit and seriously hurt. He was a fearless batter who liked to crowd the plate. Everyone was concerned. His teammates were concerned. His manager, Dick Williams, was concerned. Even Ted Williams had expressed private concern.
[Courtesy: The Boston Globe]
Conigliaro, who earned his first career All-Star appearance a few weeks prior, spent the next 18 months recovering before making his triumphant return in 1969, when he hit 20 home runs with a 103 OPS+ over 141 games for the Red Sox. To acknowledge Conigliaro's resilience, the Red Sox created an eponymous award that's given annually to the MLB player who has "overcome adversity through spirit, determination and courage."
2010 - Errant hot dog earns Royals a lawsuit
John Coomer, an unlucky spectator, files a lawsuit against the Kansas City Royals after a hot dog thrown by the club's mascot hits him in the eye, causing a detached retina and the development of cataracts.
Coomer, a Kansas native, sought an award of "over $20,000" from the Royals for the incident, which required him to have two surgeries.
According to the Associated Press, the case compelled the Missouri Supreme court to examine "whether the "baseball rule" -- a legal standard that protects teams from being sued over fan injuries caused by events on the field, court or rink -- should apply to injuries caused by mascots or other personnel that teams employ to engage fans."
Birthdays
1874 - Honus Wagner
1956 - Eddie Murray
1974 - Mike Lowell
1977 - Bronson Arroyo
1978 - Dewayne Wise