Beanball

Tony Conigliaro missed over a year after being hit in the eye, and his vision later deteriorated to the point where he was forced to retire.

On September 28, 1995, Kirby Puckett, the superstar outfielder of the Minnesota Twins, was struck in the cheek by a Dennis Martínez fastball, breaking his jaw and loosening two teeth.

Don Zimmer, who was nearly killed by a beanball in 1953 and had four metal buttons surgically implanted in his skull, recounted, "It's not a case of being tougher than anybody else... You never know how you're going to react until you come back and play again."

Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman was hit by a pitch thrown by submarine pitcher and noted headhunter Carl Mays on August 16, 1920 at the Polo Grounds in New York.

The following spring, Chapman's teammates experimented with leather helmets similar to those being used by football players; that year's Spalding Guide declared, "There is nothing 'sissy' about it."

Starting in 1956, Major League Baseball required that all batters either wear batting helmets or protective plastic liners underneath their caps.

Minor leaguers (as well as most college, high school, and youth leagues) must wear helmets with a flap covering each ear.