This Day in Twins History – July 23, 1961

Catcher Earl Battey with special batting helmet

Minnesota catcher Earl Battey is beaned in the 7th inning by Cleveland Indians pitcher Bobby Locke at Met Stadium, fracturing his cheek. Battey returns to action less than two weeks later at Yankee Stadium on August 4th wearing a special batting helmet. Back in the day, players were tough. Be sure to check out the SABR Biography piece on Battey here.

One tough catcher

Catcher Earl Battey with special batting helmet
Catcher Earl Battey with special batting helmet

April 22, 2011 – Twins catcher Earl Battey is seen here showing a batting helmet that was fashioned for him after he was beaned by Cleveland Indians pitcher Bobby Locke in the 7th inning of the July 23, 1961 games at Met Stadium and suffered a broken cheek. Earl Battey was tough and less than two weeks later, August 4th to be exact, Battey was behind the plate as the Twins faced the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Earl, a four time all-star was an original Minnesota Twin and played for Minnesota between 1961 and 1967. Battey won three Gold Gloves between 1960-1962. During his eight years as a Washington Senator (1960) and Minnesota Twin (1961-1967), he played in 990 games, had 3,228 at bats, scored 346 runs, hit 91 home runs, had 410 RBI’s, stole 12 bases while hitting for a .277 average. Between 1960-1965, Battey who was strictly a catcher, averaged 138 games per season. In 2010, Earl Battey was selected as one of the “50 Greatest Twins”. Earl Battey passed away on November 15, 2003 at the age of 68.