xubrew
04-12-2010, 11:42 AM
today, april 12th, 2010 is the 101st year anniversary of what has to be one of the most bizarre sports fatalities ever.
doc powers was an outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics, and was in his 11th major league season in 1909. in addition to being an outfielder, he was also the team doctor (hence the nickname "Doc.")
april 12th, 1909 was the first home game of the season for the athletics, and the first official game played at historic shibe park. doc powers was a very unspectacular player, at least at the plate, and only hit .216 for his career and was only appearing in about 1/3rd of the games for the A's. however, he did manage a hit, and even scored a run for the A's in this game. he also ended up killing himself.
late in the game, and with his team holding a commanding 8-1 lead, doc powers chased after a fly ball that was hit deep, but going foul. while chasing after it, good ol' doc went crashing right through the outfield wall. he was taken to the hospital and died a few days later when the hospital was unable to treat his injuries.
i don't know whether or not this incident is what inspired the warning track, but it very well could have. i'm sure there is an amusing story that's been lost over time in regards to what incident ended up inspiring the idea for a back stop.
when you read the history of shibe park, there is an extensive review about this first game. it talks about how exciting it was and how great it was that the athletics won. it makes no mention of doc killing himself while crashing through an outfield wall. i find something about all that to be very consistent with today's philadelphia sports fans.
http://www.philadelphiaathletics.org/history/shibe.html
at least wikipedia gives him some props. he is, after all, the only man in the history of the majors who died because he crashed through a wall during a game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Powers
so, when you're out at the bars today, toss one back for doc!! he deserves to be remembered over 100 years later for what is probably the most bizarre accident in professional sports history. you always want to give it your all, but with a seven run lead late in the game, maybe he should have just let that one go. it was a foul ball anyways.
doc powers was an outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics, and was in his 11th major league season in 1909. in addition to being an outfielder, he was also the team doctor (hence the nickname "Doc.")
april 12th, 1909 was the first home game of the season for the athletics, and the first official game played at historic shibe park. doc powers was a very unspectacular player, at least at the plate, and only hit .216 for his career and was only appearing in about 1/3rd of the games for the A's. however, he did manage a hit, and even scored a run for the A's in this game. he also ended up killing himself.
late in the game, and with his team holding a commanding 8-1 lead, doc powers chased after a fly ball that was hit deep, but going foul. while chasing after it, good ol' doc went crashing right through the outfield wall. he was taken to the hospital and died a few days later when the hospital was unable to treat his injuries.
i don't know whether or not this incident is what inspired the warning track, but it very well could have. i'm sure there is an amusing story that's been lost over time in regards to what incident ended up inspiring the idea for a back stop.
when you read the history of shibe park, there is an extensive review about this first game. it talks about how exciting it was and how great it was that the athletics won. it makes no mention of doc killing himself while crashing through an outfield wall. i find something about all that to be very consistent with today's philadelphia sports fans.
http://www.philadelphiaathletics.org/history/shibe.html
at least wikipedia gives him some props. he is, after all, the only man in the history of the majors who died because he crashed through a wall during a game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Powers
so, when you're out at the bars today, toss one back for doc!! he deserves to be remembered over 100 years later for what is probably the most bizarre accident in professional sports history. you always want to give it your all, but with a seven run lead late in the game, maybe he should have just let that one go. it was a foul ball anyways.