bean balls

[coxfan]

Not just baseball execs need to take this problem seriously. Fans are the ultimate bosses. If they don't indicate their displeasure at beanballs, MLB and the Players' Association won't listen.

I can think of one old beanball specialist who's getting HOF consideration from many, despite this and other problems by this player. As long as that's the case, baseball will not act. The Players' Association should be the ones to take this seriously.

[coxfan]

I read of a 19th-century beanball incident with an unusual twist. Two players were sought by the same MLB team in the 1880's. They both were dating the same woman in the city where they were, so player A agreed to sign with the new team if his rival would also sign. That way both would relocate, so neither would have an advantage in that dating game.

But player B reneged on the relocation, and thus had the lady to himself. So player A threw a sincerely-aimed beanball at the other when they met in a winter game. He missed, but the disgusted MLB owner wound up with neither player.