Is it possible for someone’s tale to be both inspirational and tragic at the same time? The short answer is, of course, yes; history is full of many such examples. And to Cleveland baseball fans, Ray Chapman fits this bill.
Chapman was a shortstop who started his career in 1912 with the then-Cleveland Naps. By all accounts, Chapman was an excellent defensive player, a well-above-average hitter and considered the best bunter in the game at the time. To back up that statement is the fact that to this day Chapman holds the single-season record for sacrifice bunts in a season at 67. He also remains sixth on baseball’s all-time sacrifice list.
It may not be the sexiest of baseball records, but it shows that Chapman chose to put the team before his personal achievements. Not many players in today’s game can make the same claim. Even the legendary Ty Cobb, who pretty much everyone in baseball hated, considered Chapman a stand-up guy and a true friend.
The baseball season of 1920 was reportedly going to be Chapman’s last, as he was newly married to Kathleen Daly, whose father was a Cleveland business figure. Chapman was going to enter Daly’s business world to better provide for his new wife and, hopefully, children down the line.
Chapman's Life Takes a Tragic Turn
August 16th, 1920: The Indians were in New York to take on the New York Yankees. Submarine-style pitcher Carl Mays was on the mound for the Yankees this late afternoon. While at bat, Chapman was struck in the head by a delivery from Mays, seemingly never seeing the pitch come out of the shadows between the mound and home plate, because he never reacted before being struck.
The crack of the impact between the ball and Chapman’s head was so pronounced that Mays assumed the ball had been hit with the bat and calmly threw the ball to first base for the out.
Assistance was immediately called for, as on-deck hitter Tris Speaker and other teammates attempted to assist Chapman, who did try to walk off the field, but buckled and lapsed into unconsciousness, muttering incoherently.
Upon reaching the hospital a short distance from the Polo Grounds, Chapman was found to have a depressed skull fracture. Doctors performed immediate surgery to relieve pressure on Chapman’s brain.
His now-pregnant wife Katie was summoned from Cleveland only to arrive at around 10 a.m. the next day, a little over five hours after Chapman had passed, at 4:40 a.m., the morning after the tragedy.
Amazingly, even though this tragic incident brought increased attention to the dangers of being in a batter’s box without head protection, it took Major League Baseball thirty years to mandate head protections for hitters.
Cleveland finished the season wearing black arm bands to honor their fallen teammate and dedicated the season to Chapman and his family. Ironically, the Indians won the World Series in 1920, and it remains one of only two World Series titles for the team, with the other coming in 1948.
Chapman’s funeral services were attended by thousands of Clevelanders and baseball dignitaries, including the entire Indians team and Duffey Lewis, Wally Pipp and Ernie Shore of the New York Yankees. Chapman remains to this day the only major-league player to die directly from an injury received during a game.
Chapman's Final Resting Place at Lake View Cemetery
All you have to do is visit his gravesite at Cleveland’s iconic Lakeview Cemetery to see for yourself what Ray Chapman still means to Cleveland baseball fans. Because no matter what time of year that you visit, you will see a varying display of baseball paraphernalia left behind by fans that visit to let Ray know he will never be forgotten and will always be a part of Cleveland’s baseball family.
