On a bright, sunny day at Fenway Park, Rico Petrocelli is struck behind the left ear, below the helmet, when he loses Jim Slaton’s pitch due to the blinding glare off the outfield bleachers. The beaning, which causes inner ear damage, results in the third baseman missing the rest of the season and will hasten his early retirement prior to the start of the 1977 season at the age of 33.

This Day In Baseball

On September 15, 1974 — On a bright, sunny day at Fenway Park, Rico Petrocelli is struck behind the left ear, below the helmet, when he loses Jim Slaton’s pitch due to the blinding glare off the outfield bleachers. The beaning, which causes inner ear damage, results in the third baseman missing the rest of the season and will hasten his early retirement prior to the start of the 1977 season at the age of 33.

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