NY Times (edited)

CLEVELAND SHORTSTOP VICTIM OF SEVERE
INJURY WHEN HIT BY PITCHED BALL

Box Score

NEW YORK – Monday - August 16, 1920. The victory of the Cleveland Indians today was accompanied by a severe blow to their pennant chances. Ray Chapman, the star of the Tribe's infield combination, was hit on the side of the head by a swiftly pitched ball thrown by Carl Mays, and was so badly injured that it isn't likely that he will be able to play again this season. He suffered a severe fracture of the skull and an operation was performed at midnight.

With the Indians leading 3-0, Chapman was the first batter to face Mays in the fifth inning. He was leaning over in a crouching position when Mays let one of his underhanded shoots loose. The ball hit Chapman on the left side of the head. The crack of the ball could be heard all over the stand and spectators gasped as they turned their heads away. Chapman dropped unconscious and a doctor was summoned for aid. Chapman was partially revived after a time and attempted to walk to the club house with the assistance of two of his club mates, but his legs doubled up under him and he was carried to the club house and afterwards taken to St Lawrence Hospital at 457 West 163rd Street.

When play was resumed, Harry Lunte was on first base in place of Chapman. Tris Speaker forced him at second and Elmer Smith struck out. Gardner slammed a hot bounder down the first base line which Wally Pipp knocked down but he did not recover in time to get the runner. Steve O'Neill then slashed a single to right which scored Speaker. [Indians 4, Yankees 0]

Cleveland spitball artist Stan Coveleski kept the Yanks scoreless until the ninth. Babe Ruth was first up and a roar spread through the crowd as they yelled for the home run king to paste the ball. Ruth broke through Coveleski's spinners and jammed a single to right field. Coveleski got wild and walked Del Pratt to put runners on first and second. With the outlook bright for a rally, the multitude became stirred for the first time in the game. Duffy Lewis came within an ace of causing a panic when he clouted a pitch high and far into left field. It was ticketed for the bleachers and the crowd was on its feet. On went the ball as Charlie Jamieson raced back for it, and, with his back jammed against the fence, he hauled it in. Pipp then grounded out to first baseman Doc Johnston and a humiliating shutout faced New York. Ping Bodie jumped into the breach and cracked a mighty two-bagger against the right field wall close to the foul line, scoring Ruth and Pratt. Muddy Ruel kept up the good work amid a scene of wild excitement by punching a single to left which brought Bodie across the plate. The Yanks were now within a run of tying the score, and every mother's son in the lot was hopeful. Lefty O'Doul was sent in to pinch hit for Hank Thormahlen, who had taken over from Carl Mays in the top of the ninth, but the best O'Doul could do, with a hero's role staring him in the face, was to hit a grounder that forced Ruel at second base, ending the game. [Final: Indians 4, Yankees 3]

The Death of Ray Chapman

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