# All-time stupid baseball injuries **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424 "2007-09-25T15:12:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/1 "2007-09-25T15:12:36Z")
The news that San Diego Padres outfielder Milton Bradley is lost for the rest of the season after tearing up his knee during an altercation with an umpire, brings to mind the various dumb ways ballplayers have managed to hurt themselves in extracurricular activities (or at least those wounds sustained while not actively playing). Speaking of bizarre injuries, Moises Alou has a place in the All-Time rankings, having missed an entire season (1999) with knee damage sustained in a) a fall off a treadmill, and later b) falling off a bicycle. [This site](http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006485299) lists some of the other top contenders, including Vince Coleman getting rolled up in the tarp machine and missing the '85 World Series, and John Smoltz trying to iron a shirt _while wearing it_ and burning his chest. (Ken Griffey Jr.\* also gets an honorable mention here, which is only fitting as he is a charter member of the All-Injury Hall of Fame). Any other suggestions for the all-time baseball Dumb Injury list? \*Current status: injured. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/2 "2007-09-25T15:24:01Z")
Rickey Henderson missed some time in 1992 or 1993 because of freezer burn. I think he put an icepack on his bare foot and left it there too long. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/3 "2007-09-25T16:07:20Z")
This thread reminded me of a standup comedy bit I saw years ago about how baseball players will miss games for the silliest reasons. Stuff like, “And XXX is back, playing today for the first time since he was frightened by a child last Halloween…” And Joe Garagiola always sticks up for 'em, “Yeah, those kids’ll scare the hell out of ya…” Anyway, sorry. I have nothing of substance to add. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/4 "2007-09-25T16:21:22Z")
Amazingly, that article missed the [Joel Zumaya](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16212095/) injury from the 2006 postseason. ---
**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/5 "2007-09-25T16:21:59Z")
My favorite has always been former utility infielder Bret Barberie, who fixed himself a snack of nachos with hot peppers, then neglected to wash his hands before he put on his contact lenses only to experience a burning sensation in his eyes. He missed one game. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/6 "2007-09-25T16:29:28Z")
Jim Lonborg was the dominating pitcher for the '67 Red Sox, but proceeded to wreck his knee while skiing, and was never the same afterward (though he managed to continue pitching). Brien Taylor, a top pitching phenom, wrecked his shoulder in a bar fight and never made it to the majors. Jason Isringhausen derailed his career by breaking a wrist while punching a trash can in the dougout. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/7 "2007-09-25T16:34:02Z")
I remember one guy had foot problems because he tied his shoes too tight. I Googled it to try and get his name and came up with this [site](http://www.funny2.com/baseball.htm) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/8 "2007-09-25T16:43:43Z")
The article mentions George Brett’s broken toe but I think he missed more games due to 'roids. (And yes, the pine tar bat was against the rules and the game shouldn’t have been resumed.) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/9 "2007-09-25T17:03:11Z")
Wasn’t there some pitcher who was out for a while last season because he’d strained his arm playing “Guitar Hero”? (I’m thinking it was someone on the Detroit Tigers who missed the playoffs because of it, but I could be wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/10 "2007-09-25T17:08:38Z")
John Tudor, frustrated by his outing in game 7 of the 1985 World Series (and no doubt upset over the fact that there was a game 7 at all), tore up his hand punching an electric fan in the dugout. Not to be outdone by a Cardinal, albeit 22 years late, Royals pitcher Neil Musser broke his hand punching a chair in the Royals clubhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/11 "2007-09-25T18:18:45Z")
[QUOTE=Shoeless] Wasn’t there some pitcher who was out for a while last season because he’d strained his arm playing “Guitar Hero”? (I’m thinking it was someone on the Detroit Tigers who missed the playoffs because of it, but I could be wrong.) [/QUOTE] Yep. (see post #4) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/12 "2007-09-25T18:58:22Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Yep. (see post #4) [/QUOTE] :smack: Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/13 "2007-09-25T19:02:29Z")
[This site](http://www.funny2.com/baseball.htm) pretty much has the whole catalog of goofy injuries. My favorite is [“The sunflower seed finger injury”](http://www.sunflowernsa.com/magazine/details.asp?ID=91&Cat=10). ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/14 "2007-09-25T19:13:00Z")
OK, the top 3 have to be: 1. **Ken Griffey Jr**. mashing his own left nut with his cup. What kind of oaf _does_ that, let alone what world-class athlete? 2. **John Smoltz** ironing himself. That’s Olympic-level dumb right there. 3. **Vince Coleman** getting rolled up in the tarp roller. Video of that incident has to be the funniest thing ever put to tape. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/15 "2007-09-25T19:22:34Z")
After former Seattle Mariners pitcher [Kazuhiro Sasaki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuhiro_Sasaki) somehow managed to hurt himself carrying luggage, [he got a somewhat tongue-in-cheek offer from a luggage vendor](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_July_2/ai_104608732). ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/16 "2007-09-25T19:33:22Z")
[QUOTE=LionelHutz405] I remember one guy had foot problems because he tied his shoes too tight. I Googled it to try and get his name and came up with this [site](http://www.funny2.com/baseball.htm) [/QUOTE] That site contains this gem: > [@](#): > > Pitcher Pascual Perez missed a game in Atlanta because he couldn’t find the correct exit ramp on the freeway. OK, it’s not an injury, but it’s pretty funny! The game he missed had been scheduled as his first start in the majors. In tribute to the road on which Perez repeatedly circled the stadium, he acquired the nickname “I-285”, which was emblazoned on the jacket he wore while running the bases (he was fast enough to be used as a pinch-runner between pitching appearances). [More on this character,](http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Pascual_Perez_1957) whose career was tainted by drug problems and repeated injuries. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/17 "2007-09-25T19:43:23Z")
Julian (Freddy) Tavarez gave up a HR to the Astro’s Beltran in game 4 of the '04 NLCS and was yanked so he promptly broke a couple of fingers punching out the bullpen phone. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/18 "2007-09-25T19:51:02Z")
I was watching the game Perez missed. IIRC, the announcers at first didn’t know why he had been replaced, and then when they found out, they kept giving updates in the “Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead” vein.\* \*I just checked, and according to Wikipedia, he is. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/19 "2007-09-25T21:35:57Z")
Having driven in Atlanta, I don’t blame the guy for getting lost! ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424/20 "2007-09-25T21:52:15Z")
Uhm, Ok, not being a sports fan and all that, I saw the little preview and I **have** to ask – the guy’s name is _really]Milton Bradley_? Seriously, and people think me spelling my son’s name Niq instead of Nick is “weird.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-stupid-baseball-injuries/420424.md?page=2)