The Yankees former second-baseman, Gil McDougald, once came to bat against the Cleveland Indians Rookie of the Year pitcher, Herb Score, in a meaningless game during the 1957 season. McDougald hit a line drive that smashed into Score’s left eye and skull. Score never recovered from the injury, despite hanging on a for a few unsuccessful comeback years.
Similarly, Tony Conigliaro was primed to become the next Boston superstar, a local product from East Boston and Swampscott who by the age of 22 had already hit 104 big-league home runs for the Red Sox.