Brushing Batters Back Will Always Be Part of the Game, but Bean Balls Can Kill

Near the end of the 1954 season, Sports Illustrated writer Jimmy Jemail asked some baseball players whether or not a pitcher should throw the "duster" (today, "brush-back pitch") to a dangerous hitter in a close game.

The players were unanimous in stating that brushing a batter off the plate will always be a part of the game. They also agreed that a pitcher should never, under any circumstances, deliberately try to hit a batter.

Sal Maglie, known as "The Barber" because in certain situations he threw so close to the batter's face that he gave him an unwanted "shave," was unequivocal about throwing the duster.

"A pitcher would be nuts not to throw the duster. If I'm throwing low and away, they're going to lean over the plate to hit," he told Jemail.

"Pafko did that once and took a game away from me. A fast ball, high and inside, might have saved that game. Pafko doesn't lean over the plate any more against me."

Maglie, who pitched for the New York Giants, was referring to Brooklyn Dodgers left fielder Andy Pafko. Despite protestations from both sides, when the Dodgers and Giants met, bean balls were part of the game.

So were fights.

Bob Feller, who was called "Rapid Robert" for good reason, would not brush back a batter.

Feller, who walked 208 hitters in 1938, was afraid that his fastball would kill a batter. Feller cited Walter Johnson, who would deliberately work batters outside because he was afraid his fastball would get away from him.

Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider both realized that a pitcher had to brush back hitters that tried to take the plate from him. However, they agreed that pitchers had no right to throw bean balls.

Phil Rizzuto pointed out that after a hitter has touched a pitcher for two or three hits, some pitchers went after that hitter with a bean ball.

Although he wasn't questioned by Jemail, Don Zimmer was with the Dodgers in 1954. Zimmer knew what a bean ball or an inside pitch that got away from the pitcher could do.

While with the Dodgers farm team in St. Paul, Zimmer was hit in the temple with a pitch. It almost cost him his life. He lost consciousness and remained semi-conscious for 13 days. Doctors drilled holes in Zimmer's skull to relieve the pressure of fluids that were building up.

The 22-year-old was told that his playing days were over, but the doctors didn't know Don Zimmer. He had a decent playing career, became a great manager and helped Joe Torre manage the New York Yankees.

It's been 58 years since Jemail's interviews. If one were to interview some of today's stars and compare their responses to those of players in 1954, there would be little difference.

Pitchers can brush back batters, but they must never throw at them. That includes Cole Hamels.