MLB Pitcher Jack Hamilton: Iowa Time Machine December 25, 1938

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On December 25, 1938, eight-year Major League Baseball pitcher Jack Hamilton was born in Burlington. Jack Hamilton's name remains frozen in baseball history for a single fourth-inning fastball thrown on August 18, 1967, at Fenway Park that struck 22-year-old Tony Conigliaro in the face.

Hamilton grew up in eastern Iowa and dominated on the mound while pitching for Morning Sun High School. A hard-throwing right-hander, Hamilton broke into the majors on April 13, 1962, with the Philadelphia Phillies at age 23. As a rookie, he went 9-12 while leading the National League in both walks with 107 and wild pitches with 22. His control problems marked him as a pitcher who worked inside, unafraid to brush batters back from the plate. The Phillies traded him to Detroit in 1964, and he bounced between teams before landing with the New York Mets in 1967. The Mets dealt Hamilton to the California Angels in June 1967, and he flourished with his new club, winning eight of his first ten decisions.

By mid-August, Hamilton looked like he had finally found his groove, posting an 8-2 record with a 2.77 ERA going into that fateful game at Fenway. Tony Conigliaro, batting against Hamilton in the fourth inning, was hit by a pitch on his left cheekbone. The impact caused a linear fracture of his cheekbone, a dislocated jaw, and severe damage to his left retina. Conigliaro missed the remainder of the 1967 season and did not play at all in 1968 due to poor vision. Boston went to the World Series that year without their young star, ultimately losing to St. Louis in seven games.

Over his career, Hamilton hit 13 batters, but none after August 18, 1967. The pitch that nearly killed Tony Conigliaro also effectively ended Hamilton's effectiveness as a pitcher. He never again pitched inside with confidence, finishing his career in 1969 with diminished velocity and even less command. The 1967 beaning changed baseball in ways that extended far beyond two careers. Modern batting helmets now include protective ear flaps specifically because of what happened to Conigliaro, a safety innovation that has prevented countless similar injuries. #Iowa #OTD #History #Baseball #MLB