Dodgers Outfielder Pete Reiser Has Horrific Crash Into Wall

We see it all the time where an outfielder runs into the wall trying to make a catch on a long drive. Most times, those players are fine, with occasional injuries that can be, at times, difficult to watch. On this day in 1947, Dodgers outfielder Pete Reiser had a collision with the wall at Ebbets Field that almost killed him.

One of the more common sights at the ballpark involves watching a player run into a wall as they are catching a fly ball. With the padding at most stadiums these days, these plays are not overly dangerous, although any time a player is running at full speed and hitting a solid object, there is the potential for injury.

That injury risk is certainly a lot less than it was back in the olden days, before the outfield walls were padded. Those unpadded walls certainly took a toll on Dodgers outfielder Pete Reiser, a speedy outfielder with power who played the game with reckless abandon. That disregard for his own well being led to Reiser being taken off the field on a stretcher 11 times.

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The worst of those moments, and one of the most frightening injuries to occur on the diamond, happened on this day in 1947. Reiser, playing center, went back to track down a deep drive hit by outfielder Culley Rikard. He caught the ball, but violently crashed into the center field fence, losing consciousness. Amazingly, he held on to the ball, confirming the out.

Of all the times Reiser hit the wall, this was the worst. Last rights were given to him in the clubhouse before he was transported to the hospital, where he remained for ten days. He eventually was cleared to play, and over a month later, on July 12th, he was back in the Dodgers lineup.

However, those times crashing into the wall took a toll. He suffered a fractured skull and numerous concussions, leading to chronic headaches. After another collision, he was temporarily paralysed. His shoulder, injured in the Army, kept popping in and out of place, leading to bone spurs that caused constant pain. The potential that Reiser had never had a chance to fully materialize, leading to another case of “what if?”

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Ray Chapman is the only Major League player to die due to injuries suffered on the field, but Pete Reiser almost joined him on this day 69 years ago.