Too Close for Comfort
Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers
AGAIN, 1937
17 years after Ray Chapman’s tragic death from a pitched ball by Yankee Carl Mays , it almost happened again. This time, the victim was all-star catcher and player/manager of the Detroit Tigers, Mickey Cochrane. On May 23, pitcher Bump Hadley of the Yankees hit Cochrane squarely on his forehead, and he went down instantly unconscious. Mickey went into a seven-day coma while Tiger and all baseball fans prayed for his recovery. He suffered from a triple fracture of his skull and would remain hospitalized for six weeks. Upon release the doctor’s orders included he should never again play baseball. However, he did return to managing and guided the Tigers to their 1937 second place finish. Never quite the same, Mickey, who had previously suffered nervous breakdowns, left the game altogether towards the end of the 1938 season. MLB continued to play without batter helmets.