In the 8th inning of an 8 – 4 Negro National League victory over the Newark Eagles at Yankee Stadium, Baltimore Elite Giants spitball ace Bill Byrd beans Eagles manager Willie Wells. Wells is carried from the field, and the incident causes him to design a batting helmet. When he steps into the batter’s box in a few days, he will be wearing a modified construction worker’s hardhat.

On July 4,1942 In the 8th inning of an 8 – 4 Negro National League victory over the Newark Eagles at Yankee Stadium, Baltimore Elite Giants spitball ace Bill Byrd beans Eagles manager Willie Wells. Wells is carried from the field, and the incident causes him to design a batting helmet. When he steps into the batter’s box in a few days, he will be wearing a modified construction worker’s hardhat.

Source

Baseball Reference July 4