Top 10 Crazy Baseball Injuries
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by Romiezzo
Well, I was busy doing some Manny Stiles trivia, and I found an article that had the top 10 baseball injuries. Now we all know how silly injuries can get when it comes to baseball. Someone could hit the ball, and while running to first base, he breaks his ankle and is on the disabled list just like that. There was another time where Sammy Sosa, one of the smartest players in baseball, broke his back sneezing and had to be put on the disabled list. It is extremely funny to see how people in general (not just famous athletes that we all know) can actually get injured.
We all know that there can be some injuries in baseball that are quite serious, such as broken bones, torn ligaments, etc., but baseball is probably the sport with the most fascinating injuries when you look back at them right now. I will add my personal favorite that wasn't added here at the end. So, anyways, let's look at some of the craziest injuries here, shall we? I'll start off with number 10.
10. Jeff Kent
All-star second baseman Jeff Kent may be a multi-millionaire, but he still prides himself on being a regular guy – the type of Joe Average who washes his own vehicle. He might want to rethink that.
Kent made headlines a few years back for breaking a bone in his left wrist while cleaning his pickup truck at an Arizona self-serve car wash. The 2000 National League MVP said he slipped and hurt himself by trying to break his fall. Reports later surfaced suggesting Kent may have injured his wrist while attempting motorcyle tricks in a parking lot – acts that would've violated his contract with the Giants. Kent denied ever pulling the Evel Knievel moves.
9. Marty Cordova
Some baseball players get naturally bronzed by spending many summer hours toiling under the blazing sun. Others choose to get their tan a different way. Anyone remember this guy? You probably will after you know the injury that caused him to miss a game. A visit to a California tanning salon provided baseball with one of its more bizarre injuries. Marty Cordova once burned his face under some tanning lamps. Under doctor's orders, the Orioles outfielder/designated hitter was told to stay out of direct sunlight for a couple of days. That explanation must have gone over well in the locker room.
8. Kevin Mitchell
Legend has it former slugger Kevin Mitchell suffered a couple of the strangest food-related injuries in baseball history. On one occasion, Mitchell was placed on the disabled list after apparently straining rib muscles while vomiting. And, according to ESPN.com, Mitchell was four days late for 1990 spring training when he was hurt eating a microwaved donut. Soon after eating the sweet delicacy, Mitchell – so the story goes – needed a root canal.
7. Steve Sparks
This injury falls under the "don't try this at home" category.
Sparks, one of only a handful of knuckleballers in modern MLB history, once attended a motivational speaking seminar hosted by the Brewers (the team he was playing for at the time). The group ripped phone books in half and blew up hot water bottles. Sparks was apparently fired up by the session, so much so that he tried to tear a phone book of his own. Bad idea. The right-hander dislocated his shoulder while performing the stunt.
6. Bret Barberie
Bret Barberie had difficulty landing a steady starting gig in the major leagues during the 1990s. But the utility infielder was forever enshrined in baseball's Injury Hall of Fame with one wipe of the eyes. The former Montreal Expos draft pick once missed a game while a member of the Florida Marlins after inadvertently rubbing chili juice in his eyes. Unfortunately for Barberie, the former husband of Canadian-born TV personality Jillian Barberie, the gaffe represented one of his hottest streaks of the season.
5. Adam Eaton
Then-Padres hurler Adam Eaton just wanted to kick back and watch a movie. Little did he realize, a few hours later, he'd star in his own thriller at the local emergency room. Eaton accidentally stabbed himself in the stomach with a paring knife while trying to unwrap a DVD a few years ago. Eaton described the move as "boneheaded." In in his defence, those fussy plastic wrappers are tricky to bust into. But talk about coming in with the heavy artillery.
4. Sammy Sosa
I guess I kinda spoiled the surprise on this one, huh?
Slugger Sammy Sosa captured the imagination of baseball fans during his epic long-ball duel with Mark McGwire during the summer of '98. He also entered baseball's wacky injury fraternity last season when a double-barrelled sneeze brought on back spasms. Instead of joining his teammates on the field, Sosa spent a Sunday afternoon in the Cubs' clubhouse receiving back treatment.
3. Wade Boggs
This list can go from players from the new millennium who are hardly recognized to Hall of Famers with five batting titles. Wade Boggs was a master at stroking hits and winning batting titles, but on at least one occasion, he should've skipped batting practice in favor of footwear instruction. The Hall of Famer once strained his back while slipping on a pair of cowboy boots. The ailment kept Boggs out of the lineup for seven games.
2. Glenallen Hill
Nightmares can induce emotional and psychological stress. For Blue Jays outfielder Glenallen Hill, bad dreams brought on a more tangible pain. Hill tumbled out of bed and crashed into a glass table while having a nightmare about being covered in spiders. The cuts he sustained caused Hill to likely become the first athlete ever sidelined due to arachnophobic-related injuries.
AND, the #1 Stupid injury... goes to... (DRUMROLL)...
1, JOHN SMOLTZ
John Smoltz is often mentioned as one of the best pitchers of his generation. The comparisons range from Greg Maddux to Pedro Martinez. But one thing is certain – Smoltz will never be mistaken for Martha Stewart. Smoltz, the anti-domestic diva, once scalded himself while ironing a shirt – while he was wearing it. Smoltz could write the book on how to throw a split-fingered fastball, but first, he should probably use the free time to read the instruction booklet for his de-wrinkling device.
Like I said, I was going to add another one to the list. You cannot exclude this when you're talking about stupid injuries. This would've made the top 5 easily, maybe even top 3. Let me give you a hint.
Yep, it's none other than Kerry Wood. Wood bruised his right side when he fell out of a hot tub at his home. He was out for about four to five days. His ego was hurt more than his rib cage, wouldn't you think? The thing that confuses me is this: he says, "It's that time of year for me." Was he talking about the baseball season, or what? I think he's injured almost all year round, so I didn't understand what he meant by that.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the article. Tell us what you think about these idiotic incidents.
