20 Iconic Athletes That Were Unfortunately Made of Glass

Tony Conigliaro

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The Massachusetts born and bred Conigliaro debuted for his hometown Boston Red Sox in 1964, and immediately made an impact on the diamond. Conigliaro posted a .276 batting average through his first four years in the majors, led the league in homers (32) in 1965, and became the youngest ever player to reach 100 career home runs.

His blossoming career came to a screeching halt during a game in 1967 when the outfielder took a fastball on a cheekbone. Given the lack of advancement in helmets at the time, Conigliaro’s face was exposed, and it led to him losing almost all eyesight in his left retina. At one point, he looked poised to become one of the greatest Red Sox hitters ever. The next moment, it was gone.