Death
On October 14, 1862, in a match against the Union of Morrisania, Creighton had hit four doubles in four at bats during the first five innings while Brainard pitched. In the sixth he took over pitching duties. In his next at bat he hit a home run, however, he suffered an injury during his swing. Creighton commented to Flanley when he crossed home plate that he heard something snap, thinking that it might have been his belt. After the game he began to experience severe pain in his abdomen, hemorrhaging from what was reported at the time a ruptured bladder. He died in his home on October 18 at the age of 21 years. He was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. His grave site was adorned with a 12-foot marble obelisk, topped with a large baseball. The marble baseball that topped his monument has long since disappeared. The cemetery is having a fundraiser to replace it.
Though it is generally accepted that he fatally injured himself while playing baseball, it was reported that the Excelsior president, Dr. Jones, made comments during the National Association convention of 1862 in attempt to "correct" this notion. He claimed that Creighton had suffered the injury, instead, while playing cricket in a match on October 7.
Read more about this topic: Jim Creighton
Famous quotes containing the word death:
“Within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court, and there the antic sits,
Scoffing his state and mocking at his pomp,
Allowing him a breath, a little scene,
To monarchize, be feared, and kill with looks.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“‘Tis no extravagant arithmetic to say, that for every ten jokes,—thou hast got an hundred enemies; and till thou hast gone on, and raised a swarm of wasps about thine ears, and art half stung to death by them, thou wilt never be convinced it is so.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)
“If thou art rich, thou’rt poor,
For like an ass, whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear’st thy heavy riches but a journey,
And death unloads thee.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)