The tragic distinction of being the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to suffer fatal injuries from an incident during a live regular-season game belongs to Ray Chapman. Playing as the shortstop for the Cleveland Indians during an August game in 1920 against the New York Yankees, Chapman was struck in the head by a high-and-inside pitch thrown by Yankees pitcher Carl Mays. Due to the dim lighting conditions of the era and the fact that batting helmets had not yet been invented or mandated, Chapman was severely injured and unfortunately passed away the following morning. This historic tragedy profoundly transformed the sport, leading to stricter protocols regarding baseball cleanliness, the frequent replacement of discolored balls, and eventually paving the way for the mandatory adoption of protective batting helmets to safeguard players.