Comments on: The invention of the batting helmet

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:46:12 +0000

While wearing batting helmet will undoubtedly help prevent a head injury, in the case of Mike Coolbaugh, it wouldn’t have done a thing. The line drive foul ball hit him in the neck, not the head, and ruptured an artery. He died so suddenly, that unless the incident had literally happened in a hospital on the way to the operating room, there wasn’t a thing that could have been done to save him.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:25:43 +0000

Conan: I don’t think you’re arrogant at all. As a matter of fact, it’s nice to see that I’m not the only one who notices such things. On the other hand:

DW: Touche!! You made me smile.

By: messed-up

messed-up — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:19:18 +0000

tragic… really.
i hope this will never happen a anymore

By: EEB

EEB — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:14:24 +0000

I’ve never been to Dickey-Stephens Park (where Mike Coolbaugh was), but at the Arkansas Travelers’ old home, Ray Winder Field my uncle saw a lady get hit by a foul ball. They gave her Travelers First Aid (a cold beer) and she was fine, I wish that was all Mike needed. But I disagree with Dave in that a foul ball tends to be going faster than anything that would get that close to an infield player. I thaink that the 1st and 3rd base coaches might ought to wear helmets, I’ve even seen a few players in the dugout get a pretty good smack, so maybe even a optional helmet in the dugout. As for the spectators, that should be the ballparks priority, to insure a safe and fun experience for the fans. There should be some other form of baseball-repel, if you will.
Perhaps something better than a net?

By: DW

DW — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:04:39 +0000

Conan, arrogant posters should really check their spelling. Sorry, but it’s true.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:53:03 +0000

I remember as a kid watching the college world series, I saw one of the peanut vendors walking up the stairs get beaned by a foul ball. He dropped like sack of wet noodles, and was carried out by paramedics. If I were selling peanuts I’d definately wear a helmet, the poor guy never saw it coming.

By: Conan the Grammarian

Conan the Grammarian — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:36:49 +0000

The story of Mike Coolbaugh’s death is indeed tragic. Helmeting coaches and umpires, however, seems unwarranted, considering the small NUMBER of incidents in which such individuals are actuall hit by balls.

Yes, David, the small NUMBER… as in… the grammatically correct “number,” rather than “amount’” in a clause that should read “Although extremely rare when you consider the NUMBER of foul balls hit every day of the season…” (emphasis added).

I know, I come off as an arrogant so-and-so. Too bad. Mental Floss is NOT Highlights Magazine. The bar is raised higher, and we expect more.

Sorry, but it’s true.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:12:03 +0000

I’m with you on the helmets for spectators thing. Many of the ball fields where I live have little more than a large square of chain link fence behind home plate, no dugouts, and nothing to separate fans from the action. A number of years ago a woman was killed when a bat was flung backwards carelessly; one minute she was sitting in her lawn chair enjoying the game, and the next…

On the other hand, life is hazardous — even fatal. It’s impossible to guard against all hazards; even trying takes the joy out of a lot of experiences.

Putting helmets on batters makes sense. Putting them on 1st & 3rd base coaches, a little less. What’s next? Helmets on all infielders?