Baseball Facts - Page 8

The reason that the Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown is because of a myth that baseball was invented in Cooperstown in 1839 by future Civil War general Abner Doubleday. In reality, Doubleday didn't invent baseball and he may have never even visited Cooperstown.

Ray Chapman is the only player ever to be killed in a baseball game. He died after being struck in the head by a pitch in 1920. His death led to the outlawing of the spitball and the requirement for umpires to replace dirty balls. Eyewitnesses report that Chapman didn't react to the pitch at all, being unable to see it.

The BEANO T-13 hand grenade was developed during WWII to have the same shape and weight as a baseball, therefore making it an effective weapon in the hands of American troops. Unfortunately, it didn't work properly and was not used.

During WWI, Ty Cobb briefly served in the chemical weapons division of the U.S. Army.

On August 24, 2011, just 347 fans were on hand to watch the Florida Marlins play the Cincinnati Reds after the game was rescheduled due to Hurricane Irene.