Bean Balls

"Mr. Cochrane's condition has improved. The signs are encouraging."

Mr. Cochrane was Gordon Stanley ("Mickey") Cochrane, catcher and manager of the Detroit Tigers. His condition, concussion of the brain and a triple skull fracture, was the result of being hit on the head by a baseball thrown by Pitcher Irving ("Bump") Hadley of the New York Yankees. Pitcher Hadley had hit Catcher Cochrane accidentally. Nonetheless, the mishap, which baseball experts predicted would end both Catcher Cochrane's playing career and the chances of the Tigers to win the American League pennant this season, revived an uproar about "bean balls" which has been a feature of the 1937 major-league baseball season.

A "bean ball" is a ball pitched at a batter's head. First noteworthy bean ball of 1937 was thrown accidentally by Cleveland's famed Young Bob Feller at Henry Leiber of the New York Giants. Next noteworthy bean balls were thrown purposely by famed Pitcher Jerome Herman ("Dizzy") Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals at members of the New York Giants in St. Louis last fortnight to express his indignation over an umpire's decision. The Dean bean balls resulted in a free-for-all fist light on the field, fines of $50 each for Pitcher Dean and Outfielder Jimmy Ripple of the Giants.

Last major-league baseballer killed by a bean ball was Shortstop Ray Chapman of Cleveland in 1920. Last week, before playing a game together, the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians experimented with polo helmets during batting practice.

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