
Truth be told, after several intestinal surgeries to attempt to repair the injury, he died of "peritonitis arising from post-surgery infections". But if "the doctors killed him" defense didn't work for Charles Guiteau, it doesn't get MLB off the hook either.

Chapman had made no attempt to get out of the way of the pitch, leading some to believe he never saw it because it was scuffed up and it was twilight. It made such a loud sound hitting his head, that Mays believed Chapman had hit the ball, fielded it as it bounced towards him, and threw it to first. Chapman was also notorious for crowding the plate and Mays known for not being afraid to pitch inside. (I'd swear I read somewhere the umpire said "If it hadn't hit him, it would have been a strike", but I can't find a source to back that up.) It all proved a deadly combination.
The spitball, which was already being phased out of the game, would be eliminated all together after that season (save for a few pitchers who were grandfathered in), as was the practice of dirtying up new balls when put into play. It would be another 25 years before batting helmets were mandatory.
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