Beanball

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A Beanball (of English. Coll. Bean , head ') is a roll of the pitcher in baseball, of the opposing batter strikes deliberately ( hit by pitch ). A beanball is considered a gross foul play and in severe cases (e.g. a throw to the head) can lead to an immediate expulsion from the umpire .

A pitcher usually throws a beanball when he wants to “avenge” an action by the opponent or the opposing team that is perceived as unsportsmanlike. A beanball can be fatal: Ray Chapman died from a head hit in 1920 .

With the beanball as well as with the brushback pitch the body of the batter is targeted, but while with the beanball the opponent is to be hit explicitly, the brushback pitch should "only" fly by threateningly close.