The headline of the Cleveland Plain Dealer of August 25th, 1919 read, in part, “Gets Verdict Over Naylor in Pitching Duel that Sparkles.” What anyone who was not at the game and who was just a casual reader didn’t realize was that the Plain Dealer was speaking literally.
Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was trying to finish off the Philadelphia A’s, who were mired in the cellar at 28-78, but were putting up a good fight against the solid Indian squad. The score was 2-1 in favor of the Indians in the top of the ninth and Caldwell was trying to put the finishing touches on a four-hitter when a lightning bolt came without warning and made “as much noise as the backfiring of a thousand autos or the explosion of a dozen shells from a battery of big Berthas.”
Caldwell was struck and lay stretched out in the pitcher’s box. Ray Chapman, the Indians shortstop, was left numb in the leg, but recovered and rushed to aid his stricken teammate. After a minute, Caldwell bounced up like nothing had happened and got the final out to preserve the 2-1 win.
Ray Chapman was one of the best-liked players on the Indians squad. However, he would be killed a year later when he was plunked in the head by Yankee pitcher Carl Mays. In those days, players did not wear batting helmets.
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