<p>All of the direct-ball contact with the head deaths can be dismissed, as batters wear helmets, and as for the balls hitting kids in the chest, there’s no mention of speed anywhere in the quotes. I’d be willing to bet that the ~38 deaths from chest impact from 1973 to 1995 were all balls thrown significantly faster than 40mph.</p>
<p>I do think, however, that kids should be taught to get hit the right way, just as a safety precaution. My old coach would get a bucket of tennis balls and throw them at us, and we’d have to turn into 50 pitches in a row. That way there’s no chance of getting hit in the chest.</p>
<p>Edit: This should put into perspective the 100 odd baseball related deaths from 1973 to 1995.</p>
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