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Ray Chapman (January 15, 1891 - August 17, 1920) was a
shortstop for the Cleveland Indians from 1912 to 1920. He remains the only Major League Baseball player to have been killed in a game. His death was one of the reasons the
spitball was outlawed.
He was struck by a pitch August 16th in a game against the New York Yankees. Carl Mays
threw the pitch that struck Chapman in the head. Chapman died twelve hours later in a hospital in New York, New York.
Cleveland players wore black arm bands to honor Chapman, and manager Tris
Speaker lead the team to win both the pennant and the first World Championship in the history of the club.
After Chapman's terrible death, Joe Sewell took his place at shortshop.
Sewell batted .329 with 12 runs batted in in 22 games. Sewell was
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Chapman led the American League in runs and walks in 1918. A top-notch bunter, Chapman is 6th on the all-time list for sacrifice hits. Only Stuffy McInnis has more sacrifices for right-handed batters. Chapman was also an excellent shortstop who
lead the American League in putouts three times and assists once. He
hit .300 three times, led the Indians in stolen bases four times, and
set a team record of 52 stolen bases which stood 1917 to 1980. He was hitting .303 with 97 runs scored when he died. Baseball
analyst Bill James has said that Chapman was "probably destined for the Hall of
Fame had he lived."
Chapman was born in Beaver Dam, Kentucky.
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