The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15

the next time a ball thrown by Amos Rusie
toppled him over az If he had been hit by
a mallet. He was out Of his head for sew
eral days, but in a short time was az lively
az ever and with his nerve 10 stand up at
the plate not shaken in the least by his
trying experiences.
II was only last year that Roger Bresna-
han Of the New York Nationals was nearly
killed by q pitched ball in Cincinnati. Coax
ley was the pitcher he was facing when a
fast ball hit him squarely in the head and
stretched him out ~lifeless The hall bounded
clear out to frst base and was picked up
m the bound by John Gdnzel. It was at
fist thought that Bresnahan was MORALLY
hurt, and it was over a month before he was
again able to play hall. The first pitcher
he faced when he did return was Coakley.
II was predicted that Bresnahan never again
would be good az a batter, but the predic-
ton was wrong. Roger was not in the least
daunted, and stood mp at the plate just as
close and stepped into the curves just as
co~urageously as he ever had,
Coakley put Dan McGann on the crippled
list the same day, f%racturing the latter's
wrist with a pitched ball and putting
McGann on the shelf for weeks. Bill
Coughlin OF the Detroits-then ~ the
Washingtons-was another player who
stopped one Of Coakley's pitches with his
head and was hors du combat for some
time. This was back in 1902. About the
time that Bresnahan was returning 10 the
game last year Frank Bowerman. his team
mate, was laid low by a ball pitched by
Camnitz of the Pittsburgs, Big and strong
though Bowerman is, he was down and out
and was out Of the game for a week or more
from the effects Of the blow. He was white
and limp when picked up.
Jesse Tannehill laid Danny Hoffman out
by hitting him in the head with a pitched
ball three years ago, and to this day Hoa-
man bats with 0 success against left
handed pitchers. Year before last Bill
HopR of the New York Americans, who
shoots them over with terrific speed when
on edge. struck Bill Bradley on the wrist
with a ball that came 20 fast It smoked
The bat fell from Bradley'S hand rs II the
hand had been paralyzcd, and Bradley
grabbed his wrist in intense pain. An
examination snowci that the wrist was
broken, Bradley was out Of the game for
the remainder Of the season. II was feared
he had been disabled permanently, but the
break knitted and his play last year did not
suffer in the least from the accident.
A couple Of accidents out of the general
run occurred at the Polo Grounds, a singular
one being that NJ which John Mciraw was
the victim. McGraw was hurrying TO the
club house just after the New Works had
won an exciting game and the rooters were
crowding around him, a cheering and adj
hiring throng. Somehow or other Mc(raw
was knocked down and trampled in the
press, and Nheu he attempted to get up
II was seen that he was hurt. An ambu-
lance took him 10 the hospital with q badly
injured leg. Sam Mertes was the u%ninten-
tional cause Of the other accident. Mertes
swung hard at a pitched ball and missed
il. The back swing Of his bat caught
Catcher Phelps Of the Pittsburgs on the
ton Of the head az the baCkstOp was stOop-
ing TO pick W. the ball. Phelps's head was
cut open and he was out Of commission
for a considerable time.
Jack Warner. the veteran catcher, broke
his arm at the Polo bruunds several years
ago. He was chasing a foul fly and ran
into the players bench. He struck his
arm and something snapped. A COM
pound fracture was the penalty Warner
paid for his zeal, There was no more
baee5all for him that year. Last year az the
Polo GROUNDS, Randall. the Boston out-
fielder. in his iirst game with that club after
being traded from the ChicagCs, wrenched
the ligamcnts in his leg 81 badly in sliding
to the plate THAI lie Was unable to walk
TO the clubhouse, H0 YVES on crutches for q