Gil McDougald was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1951. Yes, that was Mickey Mantle's first season.

Herb Score was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1955.

"The McDougald," as New York Yankees broadcaster Red Barber often referred to him, batted 306/.396/.488. Willie Mays, the National League 1951 Rookie of the Year, batted 274/.356/.472.

McDougald could play second base, third base and shortstop. He led all American League infielders in double plays at third base (1952), at second base (1955) and at shortstop (1957).

In 1955 during batting practice, Bob Cerv hit a ball that struck McDougald in the left ear. He missed a few games which made everyone believe that the injury was not serious, but it eventually cost McDougald the hearing in his left ear and finally in his right ear.

McDougald was standing behind a screen at second base talking to coach Frankie Crosetti when it happened.

He told Ira Berkow of the New York Times in 1994:

"I saw a ball lying on the ground nearby and reached to pick it up, my head going just beyond the screen. Just then Bob Cerv hit a ball that hit me in the ear. I collapsed and everyone came running over. They carried me off the field and I was out of action for a few games.

"The doctors told me I'd be all right. Well, I wasn't. The blow had broken a hearing tube. At first it just affected one ear, my left. One time I'm getting needled by some fan at third base and I turned to Rizzuto at short and said, 'Too bad I didn't get hit in the right ear, then I wouldn't have to hear this guy.' "

Despite being an integral part of eight pennant winners and five World Champions, McDougald is remembered best for the line drive he hit that struck Cleveland Indians star pitcher Herb Score in the right eye.

Score fell to the ground with blood all over his face. It affected McDougald terribly.

He described his feeling to Berkow.

"I heard the thud of the ball hitting his head and then saw him drop and lie there, bleeding and I froze," McDougald recalled. "Someone hollered for me to run to first. When Score was taken off the field on a stretcher, I was sick to my stomach. I didn't want to play any more."

McDougald was serious but manager Casey Stengel forced him to stay in the game, telling him "You're getting paid to play."

He stayed in the game, but told Stengel and later reporters that if Score lost the eye, he would quit baseball.

Score was on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats. He won 16 games at the age of 22, striking out 245 batters to lead the American League and set a rookie record that stood until Dwight Gooden had 276 strikeouts in 1984. He was the league's top rookie.

In 1956, his second season, Score won 20 games. He pitched 249.1 innings, striking out 263 batters to again lead the league.

Score returned after the injury in 1958 and in his 41 innings of work, he had 48 strikeouts, which indicates that he still had his fastball, but in 1959 he was 9-11 with a 4.71 ERA and a 79 ERA plus.

Almost everyone believed McDougald's line drive ruined Score's career, but Score always insisted that he developed a sore arm when pitching on a cold rainy night in Chicago.

McDougald was 29 years old when his line drive hit Score. He had a solid 1957 season, batting .289/.362/.442, but that was his last good year.

From 1959 until he retired after the 1960 season, McDougald batted .253/.324/.374.

No one knows if McDougald lost some of competitive desire after the Score incident, which hastened his retirement, but McDougald always claimed it had nothing to do with his quitting.

"I just got tired of the travel and the attitude of the baseball people," he said. "I started at $5,500 a year with the Yankees and then was making $37,500 at the end. But they acted like they owned you and that they were giving you the moon and stars."

The money the Yankees paid him was not enough and he decided to go into business.

"Some of my teammates and others asked, 'How can you quit baseball?' No one thought I'd follow through. But I found it was easy."