Baseball dugout mishaps

Baseball dugouts can be disgusting places. All that spit and sweat and candy wrappers. And, don’t forget, the chewing tobacco, an unhealthy baseball traditional like no other. Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, who has otherwise proven himself something of a genius, is among those who ignore medical evidence by enjoying a bit of chew. And busy in the dugout leading the Indians into the World Series this week, Francona felt a crunch in his tobacco during a win in Toronto, finding a tooth where it shouldn’t have been.

A late- night trip to a local dentist later and Francona was free to close out the series.

Some others in baseball who suffered mishaps in the dugout have not been so lucky . . .

As well as a reminder about the various perils of dugouts, Dempster’s injury is a warning about celebration safety. Leaping over the dugout railing to celebrate a win in 2009, the Chicago Cubs pitcher caught his foot and broke his big toe. “If you ask Derrek Lee, he thought it was pretty funny,” Dempster said. “Because the first person I saw when I looked up was D- Lee, and he was laughing. I'm sure it looked hysterical from his angle.”

Well, if Dempster’s method of exiting the dugout was so hazardous, surely taking the steps would be a better option? Not for Rodon, who earlier in the year slipped on the steps and sprained his wrist while bracing his fall, missing a couple of weeks. According to Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura, Rodon is “not too graceful”.

Far less funny than the rest and a vivid demonstration of the real danger in dugouts: foul balls. Earlier in the year, while watching his Marlins close out a win over the Braves, Dietrich was hit in the head by a hard liner that evaded all the safety netting. He stayed down for several minutes but, fortunately, X- rays were negative.