photo #8816674

On August 17, 1957, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Richie Ashburn unintentionally gave one fan an unforgettable – and painful – day at the ballpark. Alice Roth, attending the Phillies–New York Giants game at Connie Mack Stadium with her two grandsons, was sitting near the third-base line. Ashburn hit a foul ball that flew into the stands and struck her in the face, breaking her nose and stopping play while medics placed her on a stretcher. As she was being carried away and play resumed, Ashburn fouled off the very next pitch. In an almost unbelievable coincidence, that ball hit Roth again, this time in the leg, breaking a bone near her knee. She recovered, remained a baseball fan, and later became friends with Ashburn, who visited her and kept in touch for years.