The Most Dramatic Hit-by-Pitch Moments in MLB History
There’s a reason fans flinch every time a pitch tails high and inside. A ball traveling 95+ mph is no joke, and when it hits a batter, the sound alone can send a chill through the crowd. Most of the time, the player walks it off, but sometimes the damage is devastating. Over the years, MLB has witnessed beanballs that have ended careers, inspired rule changes, and even led to tragedy. These moments made fans hold their breath and left a permanent mark on the game.
Ray Chapman’s Tragic Death
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Jtesla16
Ray Chapman’s story will forever be remembered as the darkest in MLB history. On August 16, 1920, Chapman faced Yankees pitcher Carl Mays at the Polo Grounds. Back then, there were dirty, scuffed baseballs in play and no helmets for protection, so Chapman never picked up the submarine-style pitch that came sailing toward him. It struck him in the head with such force that Mays thought it hit Chapman’s bat. Chapman staggered but collapsed before he could reach the dugout. Doctors operated overnight, but he died the following morning.
His death led to significant changes in the game of baseball. The league began cracking down on spitballs and doctored pitches, replaced balls more frequently, and slowly moved toward mandating batting helmets. Chapman remains the only major leaguer to die from an in-game hit-by-pitch.
Tony Conigliaro’s Shattered Potential
Boston fans still talk about Tony Conigliaro because he represented both promise and heartbreak. At just 20 years old, Conigliaro led the American League in home runs and looked like a future superstar. That all changed in 1967 when Jack Hamilton of the Angels struck him in the face with a pitch. The beanball fractured his cheekbone, dislocated his jaw, and severely damaged his retina.
Conigliaro missed two full seasons before making a stunning comeback in 1969, during which he hit 20 home runs. He topped that with 36 homers and 116 RBIs in 1970. Unfortunately, his vision deteriorated as he aged and forced him out of baseball by his late 20s. His inspiring return after the beaning later led to the creation of the Tony Conigliaro Award.
Adam Greenberg’s One-Pitch Nightmare
Adam Greenberg’s career is remembered for one pitch that ended it before it even started. On July 9, 2005, in his first plate appearance for the Chicago Cubs, he was hit in the back of the head by a Valerio de los Santos fastball. Greenberg suffered a skull fracture and a severe concussion that caused years of vertigo, headaches, and double vision.
He fought to stay in the game, bouncing around the minors and independent leagues, but he never regained his form. In 2012, the Miami Marlins gave him a one-day contract so he could finally step into the box again. While facing knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, he struck out, but for Greenberg, it was about closure.
David Fry’s Scary 2024 Incident
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Ian D’Andrea
Cleveland Guardians hitter David Fry reminded fans in 2025 that the danger of a beanball is still very real. In a game against Detroit, Fry squared around to bunt a 99 mph heater from Tarik Skubal and never had a chance. The ball hit him flush in the face. He dropped instantly as trainers sprinted to the plate, while Skubal ripped off his glove in disbelief.
Imaging revealed multiple facial and nasal fractures. Fry avoided surgery, but doctors ruled him out for six to eight weeks. The Guardians placed him on the injured list, calling up Johnathan Rodríguez as a replacement. Despite the shock, Cleveland rallied to win the game 5-2, a small silver lining on a night when everyone was shaken. Fry’s injury showed that even with modern helmets and better medical care, hitters remain vulnerable when a fastball gets away.
Mike Piazza and Roger Clemens
The year 2000 gave fans one of the most intense baseball feuds of the modern era. During the regular season, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza was hit in the head by a Roger Clemens pitch and suffered a concussion that forced him to miss the All-Star Game. Months later, the two teams met in the World Series. When Piazza shattered his bat on a Clemens pitch, Clemens picked up the shard and flung it toward the runner heading to first. The beanball and the bat toss added fuel to the already fiery Subway Series.
Other Scary Moments
Tony Saunders’ broken arm in 1999 wasn’t a beanball, but it remains one of the most disturbing injuries in baseball history. As he delivered a pitch to Juan Gonzalez, his humerus bone snapped audibly. The gruesome break ended his season and, despite comeback attempts, effectively brought an end to his career.
Mickey Mantle’s famous knee injury in the 1951 World Series also came on a fluke play. While chasing a fly ball, he caught his spikes in a drainpipe and tore a ligament in his knee. Though not caused by a pitch, it altered the rest of his career. Mantle still hit 536 home runs, but teammates said he played in pain every single day after that.
Juan Encarnacion suffered one of the strangest career-ending injuries when a foul ball struck him in the eye as he stood in the on-deck circle in 2007. The damage ended his career immediately. Even players who are not at the plate have learned that being near live baseball can be just as dangerous.