samikeyp
09-06-2005, 03:17 PM
Today is the 10th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive game record with his 2,131st game in a row. This is from the article on ESPN.com about it...the strangest injuries that happened while Cal was making history.
• Brewers pitcher Steve Sparks dislocated his shoulder trying to rip a phone book in half following a motivational speech.
• Larry Andersen strained a muscle in his chest getting out of a Jacuzzi -- and diagnosed it as a "Jacuzzi-tusion."
• Jeff Juden was unable to pitch because of an infected tattoo.
• Indians pitcher Ted Power pulled a hamstring jumping off the bullpen bench to join a brawl.
• Reds pitcher Steve Foster needed surgery after blowing out his shoulder knocking down milk bottles on "The Tonight Show."
• Tigers outfielder Junior Felix strained a hip flexor sliding between Mike Henneman's legs during batting practice.
• Pascual Perez missed a start because he couldn't find the stadium, drove 100 miles on a loop freeway around Atlanta, circled the city two hours, missed his exit five times.
• Perez missed another start because he jumped the Braves to consult a witch doctor.
• Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez hurt his arm tossing his suitcase on the team equipment truck -- an injury later described by Expos public-relations wit Richard Griffin as "Samsonitis."
• Goose Gossage threw his back out sneezing.
• Kent Hrbek missed 10 games after spraining his ankle wrestling with a clubhouse attendant.
• Darren Daulton missed a month after he watched a videotape of himself striking out, punched a wall and broke his hand.
• Vince Coleman missed an entire postseason when he was swallowed up by the automatic tarp machine in St. Louis.
• Marlins infielder Bret Barberie, one of Ripken's former double-play partners, couldn't play because he was slicing habanero chilies in the clubhouse and rubbed juice in his eye.
• Ripken's teammate Mark Smith cut his hand sticking it in a hotel air conditioner.
• Brewers shortstop Jose Valentin cut his hand on a pineapple.
• Dwight Gooden missed a start after Vince Coleman accidentally hit him with a golf club in the locker room.
• Jose Canseco blew out his elbow throwing 50 warm-up pitches in preparation for his dramatic pitching debut.
• Reds pitcher Johnny Ruffin hurt his knee watching television.
• Former Padres malingerer Chris Brown missed a game with a strained eyelid.
• Marlins pitcher Randy Veres bruised his hand pounding the wall of his hotel room to get the people next door to keep it down.
• And Gregg Jefferies missed a game because his wife went into labor while watching him hit for the cycle.
• Brewers pitcher Steve Sparks dislocated his shoulder trying to rip a phone book in half following a motivational speech.
• Larry Andersen strained a muscle in his chest getting out of a Jacuzzi -- and diagnosed it as a "Jacuzzi-tusion."
• Jeff Juden was unable to pitch because of an infected tattoo.
• Indians pitcher Ted Power pulled a hamstring jumping off the bullpen bench to join a brawl.
• Reds pitcher Steve Foster needed surgery after blowing out his shoulder knocking down milk bottles on "The Tonight Show."
• Tigers outfielder Junior Felix strained a hip flexor sliding between Mike Henneman's legs during batting practice.
• Pascual Perez missed a start because he couldn't find the stadium, drove 100 miles on a loop freeway around Atlanta, circled the city two hours, missed his exit five times.
• Perez missed another start because he jumped the Braves to consult a witch doctor.
• Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez hurt his arm tossing his suitcase on the team equipment truck -- an injury later described by Expos public-relations wit Richard Griffin as "Samsonitis."
• Goose Gossage threw his back out sneezing.
• Kent Hrbek missed 10 games after spraining his ankle wrestling with a clubhouse attendant.
• Darren Daulton missed a month after he watched a videotape of himself striking out, punched a wall and broke his hand.
• Vince Coleman missed an entire postseason when he was swallowed up by the automatic tarp machine in St. Louis.
• Marlins infielder Bret Barberie, one of Ripken's former double-play partners, couldn't play because he was slicing habanero chilies in the clubhouse and rubbed juice in his eye.
• Ripken's teammate Mark Smith cut his hand sticking it in a hotel air conditioner.
• Brewers shortstop Jose Valentin cut his hand on a pineapple.
• Dwight Gooden missed a start after Vince Coleman accidentally hit him with a golf club in the locker room.
• Jose Canseco blew out his elbow throwing 50 warm-up pitches in preparation for his dramatic pitching debut.
• Reds pitcher Johnny Ruffin hurt his knee watching television.
• Former Padres malingerer Chris Brown missed a game with a strained eyelid.
• Marlins pitcher Randy Veres bruised his hand pounding the wall of his hotel room to get the people next door to keep it down.
• And Gregg Jefferies missed a game because his wife went into labor while watching him hit for the cycle.