Has a major league baseball home run ever killed anyone?

Question

I was watching major league baseball today, im not a big fan or anything, but i was wondering, when they hit a homerun out into the crowd, is it dangerous? has the ball ever hit someone and killed them? im curious to know, thanks!

Answer 1

Last year, in a minor league game, a line drive was hit down the first base line, the first base coach was looking away. The ball him him in the head, and he died from the trauma.

Answer 2

No, not from a homerun. Fans are much more likely to get hurt by foul balls than home runs.

Answer 3

Roger Maris was killed by a home run ball.When he broke Babe Ruts record it changed his life for the worse.The poor guy went through a living h**l.Then if that wasnt enough they put an asterick next to his record because he did it in a 3 game longer season than Ruth.They finally removed the asterick after he was dead.

Answer 4

The ball loses a lot of it's velocity due to air resistance, so no. The ball wouldn't have enough oomph on a homer. A baseball is only five ounces, so it would take an immense force to make it dangerous. A 95mph fastball to the head can, but not a homer.  

Answer 5

Not really, the ball's usually enveloped in a sea of hands so it ricochets a bit and dies down. No ones ever died from a home run to my knowledge.

Answer 6

I don't think a homerun because it loses most of its velocity by the time it has traveled 300 plus feet.....but a foul ball that I don't know because the fans are closer so the ball is still traveling fast.

Actually now that I think about it, a foul ball has killed a third base coach...read more about it by clicking on the link

Answer 7

cmon jajajaja i play pop up in the park sometimes wit a friend. once i missed the catch n the ball hit me staright at the top of my head. it just bangs u in the head n stings a little. i was laughing cuz i actually missed the ball.

Answer 8

Bill Mazeroski's world series winning home run in 1960 d**n near killed me.  It broke my heart.  I was a 13 year old Yankees fan.

Answer 9

Im pretty sure a ball havent killed anyone.  Its not like when the ball is coming, you are looking down reading your newspaper.  You'll get notice with the increase in volume of the guys who are sitting next to you and everyone getting on their feet.  And the ball does lose velocity as Anthony said.  So yea, its safe for the fan.  

I still wanna see someday however, more protection for the pitchers.  Just need to brainstorm more.

Answer 10

homerun no

Answer 11

I'm not sure if a HR actually killed anybody but there was a pitcher that gave up a HR that may have contributed to his death a couple of years later.

In game 5 of the 1986 AL Championship series and the Angels were winning 5 to 4 in the 9th inning and were one strike away from advancing to their first ever World Series.  Dave Henderson hit a two run HR of Donnie Moore to put the Red Sox up 6 to 5 in a game that they would eventually win in 11 innings.  They then went on to win the next 2 games to advance to the World Series.

Almost 3 years later after being cut by the Royals the combinition of severe depression, the repercussions of that 1986 loss, and marital and financial problems, Moore committed suicide.  Had he been able to get Henderson out who knows what would have happened.  I know that Bill Buckner's life would have been a lot better.