On Sunday, Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright hit Toronto first baseman Chris Colabello square in the helmet, and not with his usual floating trick pitch, but with an 87 mph fastball, making a frightening sound and causing Colabello to collapse on the field. After being checked out by the team trainer and allowing the replay of his life that flashed before his eyes to wind up, Wright’s beanee took first base and remained in the game.
Wright appeared visibly upset on the mound,and apologized to Colabello when he made his way to first.
The next morning, Colabello found an expensive bottle of liquor in his locker, a present from Wright. He was surprised. “He went above and beyond in my eyes,” the player with the sore head said. “It was pretty obvious there was no intent [to throw a beanball]. You could see by his reaction.”
Baseball has been taking positive and sensible steps in recent years to minimize the physical danger to players in a non-contact sport that nonetheless has had particular points of legitimate peril for a century. (Star Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman was killed by an errant pitch in 1920, and many player have come close to the same fate since.) Intentionally throwing at a batter now gets pitchers suspended and fined. Players who have been diagnosed with concussions now must pass a series of tests before they are allowed to play again. Violent home plate collisions have been greatly reduced by making it illegal for a catcher to block the plate before he has the ball, and after last’s year’s take-out slide at second base by Chase Utley in the National League play-offs, breaking the leg of the Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada, a new rule was put in effect that bans a baserunner from intentionally sliding into a fielder trying to complete a double-play.
All of this is changing the culture of the game to one that values human life and player health over momentarily beneficial, an yes, crowd-pleasing violence. Good for baseball.
Of course, in pro football, a sport where the players try to hurt each other, know they are hurting each other and get cheered for doing it while their league denies that there is a problem, such a cultural shift would be impractical. Imagine if each player whose tackles, blocks and head butts caused an ex-NFL player to suffer from premature dementia sent him a bottle of liquor to apologize.
Thousands of former football players would drink themselves to death.
Ethics Alarms 
There are brush back pitches that are acceptable and understood, but head hunting is insane. Some pitchers were notorious for such an action most notably from the ones I remember Don Drysdale, Sal “The Barber” Maglie, Bob Gibson and – of course – “Gentleman” Jim Lonborg putting notches in his glove for every batter he nailed in 1967. And there is a connection to that and Tony C. getting hit.
As a kid, I pitched – my only baseball skill – and threw very hard. I remember going inside and my usual impeccable control had left me – batter had a broken wrist. But I have seen kids do head hunting back then and that was before sophisticated protective helmets.
Wright is 31-years-old and been around the minors for years attempting to perfect his knuckleball and based on last season (5-4, 4.07) and two good starts this season he may finally have it.
At Pawtucket, you would see him going out of his way to sign for people and he certainly knows that even a minor injury to a borderline player can cost the guy his career – miss some games and someone gets hot and you are gone.
JMO but I view Wright as what most players now do and play hard but play clean. I happened to be at the game (Loge Box 116) and had a view of this. Wright was shaken. You know damn well that tossing the occasional fastball when you are tossing a consistent 70-73 MPH knuckle ball can throw both batter and pitcher off.
I have high hope for Wright as well—as group, knuckleballers seem to have a lot of character. They have to, I think.
I had not thought of it before, but flag baseball seems right over the horizon (and you seem to be fine with that).
-Jut
How would flag baseball work, exactly? I’m intrigued.
Greatest hit by pitch story ever – the day Dock Ellis tried to hit every Cincinnati Red (Rose included).
http://thestacks.deadspin.com/eleven-pitches-three-hit-batters-the-day-dock-ellis-w-1695974523
I agree, though Doc had a problem. I highly recommend the documentary about him. (the whole thing is here) Fascinating, complex, almost heroic man.
What are the ethics of a knuckle baller throwing an occasional 87 m.p.h. fastball? Is that ever safe? Does a hitter really get fooled by a fast ball compared to a knuckle ball? I doubt it.
Good on Wright, Colabello, the Toronto team trainer, and the helmet manufacturer all.
How would you feel if he beaned a Yankee?
“Condign justice.”
Especially if it’s Arod.
You mean “Slappy?” Or “Alice?”
Love the nickname “Slappy,” but only Boston fans get it.