This Day in Baseball History

1952 - Cardinals pitcher Bob Slaybaugh loses left eye after being hit by line drive

Major League Baseball's battle to protect pitchers is a hot topic this week, after both Aroldis Chapman and Matt Moore were hit in the face by line drives while on the mound during Spring Training.

Both players are expected to make a full recovery and will pitch again, but the same could not be said for former Cardinals pitcher Bob Slaybaugh. 

During batting practice ahead of a Spring Training game in 1953, the left-hander took a comebacker to his face, that resulted in the loss of his left eye. Despite two attempted comebacks in 1953 and 1954, Slaybaugh was forced into premature retirement as a 23-year-old. 

1961 - NY State Senate approves funding to build Shea Stadium

After the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants departed for the West Coast, the expansion Mets needed a stadium. 

Ebbets Field in Brooklyn was set to be demolished and the Polo Grounds - where the Mets played for their first two seasons - was 70-years-old. 

In 1961, the NY State Senate approved $55 million in funding to build Shea Stadium, which the Mets would occupy from 1964 - 2008. 

The team would share Shea with the New York Jets from 1964-1983 and even their crosstown rival New York Yankees from 1974-75. 

With Yankee Stadium set for renovations, George Steinbrenner was looking for a home. Initially the Mets didn't want to share their grounds with the Bronx Bombers, but as Shea was owned by the city, the team had no choice but to let their rivals in. 

2001 - Randy Johnson hits bird with pitch

Feathers were flying during a Spring Training game between the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. 

Known for a terrifying fastball - his fastest pitch recorded was 102 MPH - Randy Johnson struck fear into opposing hitters and on this day birds as well. 

As the left-hander wound up in the seventh inning, a dove flew past and was the explosive casualty of flying in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Birthdays

1893 - George Sisler

1956 - Garry Templeton

1978 - Jose Valverde

1982 - Corey Hart

1982 - Dustin McGowan

1990 - Starlin Castro