going in head first

The baseball injury everyone is talking about today is the broken arm reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers received while sliding into home plate.

Josh Hamilton breaks his arm on this slide into home

Many players like to slide head first because instinctively it is much easier to do.  It is the same slide kids do every day.

However, baseball players are taught the feet first pop-up slide.  This type of slide allows the player to slide in feet first, and quickly pop back up.  It keeps the player safer than sliding in head first, where you are putting your wrist, elbow, arm, collarbone and head at risk should the slide not go well.

Hamilton performing a pop up slide

The irony of the situation is that had Hamilton slid in feet first, it is unlikely he would've avoided the tag of the catcher, and been ruled out.  So, Hamilton scored the run and broke his arm in a game the Rangers ultimately lost.


He said it best in his post game quote, "It was just a stupid play," Hamilton said. "I definitely shouldn't have done it."