BASEBALL HELMET

Throughout the 1940 season, the Brooklyn Dodgers president felt his team was the target of “beanballs” from opposing pitchers – pitches thrown (sometimes with intent) to the head of hitters. Rookie shortstop Pee Wee Reese was hit in the head at Wrigley Field on June 1st; two weeks later, on June 18th, with Reese still missing time, recently acquired Dodgers outfielder Joe “Ducky” Medwick took one right off the noggin’. Medwick would have to sit out four days while recovering, and Reese missed three weeks.