Tony Conigliaro – Boston Red Sox
In 1965, Conigliaro led the league in home runs (32), and becoamethe youngest home run champion in American League history. He was then selected for the All-Star Game in 1967 and in that season, at just the age of 22, he not only reached a career total of 100 home runs, but attained that milestone at the youngest age for an American League player. In 1967, the Red Sox were playing the California Angels and Conigliaro was hit by a pitch from Jack Hamilton on his left cheekbone, resulting in his being carried off the field on a stretcher. He sustained a linear fracture of the left cheekbone and a dislocated jaw with severe damage to his left retina. A year and a half later, he would return (earning Comeback Player of the Year honors) but he was forced to retire because his eyesight had been permanently damaged.
Tony Conigliaro – Boston Red Sox
T.J. Ford – San Antonio Spurs
Ford received numerous top basketball accolades while in high school and college, he then entered the 2003 NBA draft and was chosen eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. During his rookie season, he suffered a contusion of the spinal cord, a career-threatening injury. Ford ended up missing the entire 2004–05 season due to his spinal cord injury. While he did make a full recovery and returned to the court, he was never the same and ultimately retired in 2012.
T.J. Ford – San Antonio Spurs
