Ten Incredible MLB Players that Suffered Career-Ending Injuries

In the sports world, injuries are an inevitability. Be it a nagging backache or a damaged bone, athletes get hurt. It’s simply a fact. Yet, while some recover on time or in advance of schedule, some are now not so lucky. When a star pitcher or catcher is injured, these injuries can affect bettors’ MLB picks today.

Suppose these accidents are suffered by athletes who have been doing nicely until getting hurt. In that case, the fans feel a unique disappointment, nearly watching vicariously and hoping the injured player gets better. Going through the history books, we look at ten MLB players that suffered career-ending injuries.

Don Mattingly

For the first 1/2 of his career, Don Mattingly was a perennial All-Star who was once a remarkable producer at the plate as nicely as one who should play splendid protection at first base. He received the AL batting title in 1984 at age 23 and 12 months later.

Yet, in 1988, returned troubles took place the younger slugger. He hit .311; however, he solely had 18 home runs with 88 RBI. He would slightly rebound the next 12 months with 23 homers and 111 RBI. However, it used to be apparent that something used was not right.

Jason Kendall

Jason Kendall debuted in 1996 as the new catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He finished 0.33 in Rookie of the Year balloting as he hit .300. Still, he established himself as an uncommon type of player over the first three years of his career: a catcher who could hit nicely for average and additionally steal bases.

Suddenly, on July four weekend in 1999, the worst passed off Kendall. In a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, he dislocated his ankle after laying down a bunt while trying to walk it off; he had to be carried off on a stretcher.

Nomar Garciaparra

It’s hard to encompass Nomar Garciaparra on this list, seeing as he was easily the excellent hitter in baseball from 1997 to 2000. Over that stretch, the man hit .337 with 113 domestic runs and 420 RBI despite lacking time with some nagging injuries.

However, in 2001, a broken wrist constrained Garciaparra to 21 games. He came again to have two solid seasons in 2002 and 2003, but the malicious damage program bit him and caught around in 2004.

Mark Fidrych

Do you understand how a player will come along every so often, and he’ll be so excellent that he will become a kind of folks hero? In 1976, that man used to be Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark Fidrych.

Unfortunately, the story was over no faster than it had started. Arm troubles confined Fidrych to just 27 starts over the next four seasons, for the duration of which he went 10-10 with a 4.28 ERA.  After the 1980 season, he was forced to retire at age 25.

Ben McDonald

McDonald regarded six video games at the major-league degree in 1989 before becoming semi-regular the following year. McDonald was once by no means god awful, and as his ERA used to be generally anywhere from the mid-threes to the low- to mid-fours.

However, he was the dominant ace Orioles followers hoped he would be once in no way. He subsequently became a free agent and signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, but shoulder troubles took over his 2nd season there. He used to be just 29 years historic.

Ray Fosse

Ray Fosse just could not get a break when it comes to injuries. He became an everyday player in 1970. While he finished that season with a .307 average, 18 domestic runs, and sixty-one RBI, key damage suffered during the All-Star Game is what headlined Fosse’s year.

On the final play of the game, Pete Rose scored the triumphing run and ran over Fosse. Rose hit Fosse so challenging that the young catcher’s shoulder was once separated.

Matt Anderson

The Detroit Tigers selected Matt Anderson with the first average pick in the 1997 draft in hopes that he would one day emerge as a pinnacle closer for them. He impressed sufficient in the minors to be known as up in 1998. Though he wasn’t the nearer immediately, he was a respectable fireballer out of the bullpen over the next three seasons.

Joba Chamberlain

Believe it or not, Joba Chamberlain used to be considered a top-pitching prospect. In his first 12 months in the pros, he truly tore it up in the minors. He completed with a 4-3 document and 2.38 ERA, now not to point out 118 strikeouts in 100.1 innings before being shut down with rotator cuff tendonitis.

Smoky Joe Wood

Smoky Joe Wood was once a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in the early 1900s, and if there may be whatever humans bear in mind him for, it’s his 1912 season. Unfortunately, while attempting to area a bunt the subsequent year, Wood slipped on the grass and broke his thumb.

He endured to put up astounding numbers in ERA and win-loss record. However, he by no means entirely recovered from the injury and required a lot of time off in between starts.

Mitch Meluskey

In 2000, Mitch Meluskey acquired the chance to be the daily catcher for the Houston Astros and was particularly solid. Meluskey was once traded to the Detroit Tigers for Brad Ausmus. While the change was a head-scratcher, it ultimately proved to be the right move as Meluskey ignored all but eight games over the next two seasons due to a severe shoulder injury.

Our Verdict

Talent and challenging work are not the only elements of a Hall of Fame career. Longevity is important too, and it is a thing that unluckily has eluded many players who have been, in any other case, on track to be enshrined among the greats.

Leon Motley

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