The Most Bizarre MLB Injuries
Bret Barberie, infielder, 1995
Call it a case of chili con cornea: Barberie missed a game after making nachos with a teammate . . . and inadvertently sprinkling chili oil into his eyes.
David Cone, pitcher, 1998
Dog bites man isn’t news. Man bites dog is news, sometimes. Dog bites son put Cone in the news when his mother’s Jack Russel terrier took a nip of his finger. Then-Yankee manager Joe Torre had to hand Cone’s starting assignment to a rookie with a fine enough career to come in his own right: Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez.
Marty Cordova, outfielder, 2002
He suffered a severe sunburn across his face . . . on a tanning bed. Either he forgot the Coppertone or figured he didn’t need it indoors.
Clint Barmes, infielder, 2005
He was heading for a potential National League Rookie of the Year award when teammate Todd Helton presented him with some choice deer meat . . . and Barmes tried hauling the side of venison himself until he fell over and broke his collarbone. His career went to journeyman after his recovery. It may be safe to assume that Bambi isn’t one of his favorite films.
Ken Griffey, Jr., outfielder, 2006
The cup that’s supposed to protect the family jewels failed the Hall of Famer when it pinched his testicle. The good news is that Junior developed a sense of humor about it. When Hall of Famer-in-waiting Adrian Beltre became a Mariners teammate, the third baseman suffered his own testicle injury. Griffey arranged to have Beltre serenaded upon his return—with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.