In 1940, a Brooklyn Dodger star was hit in the head by a pitch. The team's president shocked baseball by making an unprecedented accusation in response.
Thanks Jacob! I can't imagine it. This story has strong Wild West energy all the way through. But, even for his time, MacPhail was certainly an outlier.
The record is silent on this point but it's a very reasonable hypothesis as he was hanging out with the writers before it happened. I really do think though that MacPhail also had a real sore spot for beanballs, based on this incident and several innovations he championed to protect batters. But both things can be true, and probably were.
Great story! McPhail and his son Lee feature prominently in a wonderful book I'm reading at the moment called Lords of the Realm by John Helyar (author of Barbarians at the Gate, and who wrote about the business of sports in the Wall Street Journal for many years). It's basically a history of the business side of baseball with a heavy emphasis on labor relations from the 50s through the 90s. Apologies if it's been mentioned here before, but I highly recommend it as a companion to this fine Substack and fans of deep baseball history.
LotR is one of my favorite books. It amazes me how Helyar goes through the history so deftly and makes the complexities of baseball's messy labor history so legible. He also has a soft spot for the game's many great characters and usually has the perfect anecdote to describe them. We recommend your recommendation!
I’m sure this isn’t the only time pitchers have made this kind of comment over the years. I believe there was one documented case of an actual death due to a beaning. Yes, it is only a game but competition is part of it.
Maybe I’m a softy but it does kinda bug me that the guy that did the wacking doesn’t walk over to the recipient-being tough is part of the game & I guess he’s the other team so the screw him attitude?? I don’t know but you see guys on base always friendly to the infielders from the other team.
I can’t prescribe scotch over rum over vodka so I leave that one alone - sorry.
Bowman did come right in to see how Medwick was doing, but he was semi-unconscious at the time. The Cardinals' manager would later point to this as a spontaneous, authentic act of concern--in other words, proof that Bowman didn't do it on purpose. It's a conversation, but my position is that pitchers who hit batters, especially above the shoulders, should express remorse right away. If it was an accident, you should be sorry.
Quite a tale, previously unknown to me! Enjoyed every last detail.
That's a compliment indeed, thank you. Don't look at any spoilers before next week.
Great story. Imagine a GM rushing the field today to challenge the opposing team?
Thanks Jacob! I can't imagine it. This story has strong Wild West energy all the way through. But, even for his time, MacPhail was certainly an outlier.
Well he was probably loaded so that explains his behavior.
The record is silent on this point but it's a very reasonable hypothesis as he was hanging out with the writers before it happened. I really do think though that MacPhail also had a real sore spot for beanballs, based on this incident and several innovations he championed to protect batters. But both things can be true, and probably were.
I’m assuming MacPhail was drunk because everyone drank back then.
Right, now we just smoke - but don't worry, It's Medical
Great story! McPhail and his son Lee feature prominently in a wonderful book I'm reading at the moment called Lords of the Realm by John Helyar (author of Barbarians at the Gate, and who wrote about the business of sports in the Wall Street Journal for many years). It's basically a history of the business side of baseball with a heavy emphasis on labor relations from the 50s through the 90s. Apologies if it's been mentioned here before, but I highly recommend it as a companion to this fine Substack and fans of deep baseball history.
LotR is one of my favorite books. It amazes me how Helyar goes through the history so deftly and makes the complexities of baseball's messy labor history so legible. He also has a soft spot for the game's many great characters and usually has the perfect anecdote to describe them. We recommend your recommendation!
I’m sure this isn’t the only time pitchers have made this kind of comment over the years. I believe there was one documented case of an actual death due to a beaning. Yes, it is only a game but competition is part of it.
Maybe I’m a softy but it does kinda bug me that the guy that did the wacking doesn’t walk over to the recipient-being tough is part of the game & I guess he’s the other team so the screw him attitude?? I don’t know but you see guys on base always friendly to the infielders from the other team.
I can’t prescribe scotch over rum over vodka so I leave that one alone - sorry.
Bowman did come right in to see how Medwick was doing, but he was semi-unconscious at the time. The Cardinals' manager would later point to this as a spontaneous, authentic act of concern--in other words, proof that Bowman didn't do it on purpose. It's a conversation, but my position is that pitchers who hit batters, especially above the shoulders, should express remorse right away. If it was an accident, you should be sorry.
Boy, that Larry McPhail was a badass. I look forward to the next chapter, Paul.