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Ray Chapman is remembered today as baseball’s only fatality due to on-field events. Reducing him to that fails to acknowledge the true tragedy of the events as well as Chapman’s fine ball-playing skills.

Chapman broke in with the Cleveland Naps in 1912 as a 21-year old shortstop. He immediately proved he belonged, hitting .312 in 31 games.

During his career Chapman established himself as one of the game’s premier bunters. The single-season record holder for sacrifice hits with 67, Chapman finished with 334 career sacs in his 9 seasons. More than a century later that figure still stands 5th all-time. His .317 sacrifices per game is the highest figure in baseball history.

Playing in the heart of the Deadball Era, Chapman also hit .300 or better in four of his nine years in the majors. The fleet-footed 5’10”, 170-pounder also led his team in steals four times. His 52 thefts in 1917 stood as the Cleveland franchise record 63 years. Despite the brevity of his career, Chapman’s 238 career stolen bases remains fifth on the franchise list.

Ray Chapman was quite a ball player.

Baseball’s dark day came on August 16, 1920. Carl Mays was on the hill for Yankees. Renowned as a spitball pitcher – the pitch was still legal then – Mays was in search of his 100th career win.

The pitcher faced Chapman in the 5th inning for the third time in the game. With the Naps shortstop crowding the plate, Mays threw a fastball up and in. With the game in the late afternoon, Chapman never picked up the flight of the pitch from Mays’ submarine delivery.

The ball struck Chapman’s skull with a loud thud. As the ball dribbled back toward the mound Mays, thinking it hit Chapman’s bat, fielded the ball and tossed it to first baseman Wally Pipp.

Hall of Fame umpire Tommy Connolly who was calling balls and strikes saw blood coming from Chapman’s ear. Connolly frantically called to the stands for a doctor. Chapman got up trying to take his base. His knees buckled and he fell unconscious.

Taken to a hospital near the Polo Grounds, Chapman died from the beaning early the next morning. He left behind his pregnant wife Kathleen who gave birth six months later. Little Rae-Marie Chapman never got to meet her father.

Unable to cope with her husband’s death, Kathleen suffered a nervous breakdown. She swallowed poison and died on April 20, 1928. A year later and six days after Kathleen’s passing, her orphaned 8-year old daughter contracted measles during an epidemic and died. She was eight years old.

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The Naps mourned the loss of their shortstop. With 43 games remaining in their season, Cleveland also needed to find an able replacement. They turned to 21-year old minor leaguers Joe Sewell.

He did not disappoint.

Sewell hit .329 with a .413 on-base percentage the rest of the season. The Indians finished with the best record in baseball. In the World Series Cleveland defeated National League champion Brooklyn to win its first title.

Sewell remained in Cleveland through the 1930 season. During his 11 years with the Tribe, Sewell hit .320 with exactly 1,800 hits.

In the collection is this handwritten letter from Sewell describing the Indians uniforms after Chapman death.

“The picture was made in 1920 as the black band around the left arm in memory of Ray Chapman’s death. Everyone wore it the rest of the year. It was made in Cleveland Old League Park.

“Thanks for remembering me.

“Sincerely, Joe Sewell”