Can't Predict Baseball: The Roy Campanella Benefit

On this day in 1957 the Indians Herb Score suffered a season ending injury when he was struck in the face by the Yankees Gil McDougald's line drive. The 1955 Rookie of the Year followed up with 20 victories in his sophomore campaign only to fall of the face of the Earth after the injury. Score never regained his winning form although he blamed a torn tendon in his pitching arm and not the line drive to the face.

On this day in 1959 the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees played an exhibition game to benefit Roy Campanella after he was paralyzed in an auto accident prior to the team moving to LA in 1958. The Yankees would win the game 6-2 in front of the largest crowd ever drawn for a baseball game, 93,103 fans. AN estimated 15,000 fans were turned away at the gate due to the sellout. Pee Wee Reese pushed "Campy" in his wheelchair into the darkened stadium that was totally illuminated by fans holding candles or matches.