Ray Chapman First MLB player to die in a game

On my trip to Cleveland, Ohio, I visited Lakeview Cemetery and found the grave of Raymond “Ray” Chapman, a beloved shortstop for the Cleveland Indians who tragically died on August 16, 1920.

Chapman was struck in the head by a pitch thrown by Carl Mays during a game against the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. He passed away the following day in hospital, making his death one of the few fatalities directly linked to on-field injuries in Major League Baseball history.

Chapman’s death became a significant factor in pushing for the use of batting helmets, though it would take more than 30 years before helmets were mandated in the sport.

Thousands of mourners gathered for his funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland, marking a very somber chapter in baseball’s story.

1891-1920

 The ball that took Ray Chapman’s life, August, 1920.