Joe Sprinz
Encyclopedia
Joseph Conrad Sprinz was a Major League Baseball
catcher
who played for three seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians
from 1930 to 1931 and the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1933.
According to Fundamentals of Physics
( 4 ed., Wiley
, 1993 ), by David Halliday
, Robert Resnick
and Jearl Walker
, on page 30, Chapter Two, "Motion along a Straight Line", Joe Sprinz, at the time in question, a member of the San Francisco Ball Club, attempted to beat the World Record
for catching a baseball dropped from a great height, set by members of the 1938 Cleveland Indians
, who had done so at 700 feet, with balls dropped from a building. ( See also 1938 Cleveland Indians season
). On a day in 1939, Sprinz had a blimp hover overhead at 800 feet, from which were to be dropped balls for him to catch. On his fifth attempt, a baseball entered his glove at what could be estimated to be up to 154 mph. It slammed his glove hand into his face with such force, that he broke his upper jaw in twelve places, fractured five of his teeth, and was rendered unconscious. He also dropped the ball. This account was given in the book to illustrate how to calculate the answers to kinematic equations, especially working out the final velocity of the ball as Mr. Sprinz tried to catch it.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who played for three seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
from 1930 to 1931 and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in 1933.
According to Fundamentals of Physics
Fundamentals of Physics
Fundamentals of Physics is a calculus-based physics textbook by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker. The textbook is currently in its ninth edition and is published in a five-volume set. The current version is a revised version of the original textbook Physics by Halliday and Resnick,...
( 4 ed., Wiley
John Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 1993 ), by David Halliday
David Halliday
David Halliday may refer to:* David Halliday , Scottish professional footballer* David Halliday , American physicist and textbook author...
, Robert Resnick
Robert Resnick
Robert Resnick is a well-respected physics educator and author of physics textbooks.He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 11, 1923 and graduated from the Baltimore City College high school in 1939. He received his B.A. in 1943 and his Ph.D. in 1949, both in physics from Johns Hopkins...
and Jearl Walker
Jearl Walker
Jearl Walker is a physicist noted for his book Flying Circus of Physics, first published in 1975; the second edition was published in June 2006...
, on page 30, Chapter Two, "Motion along a Straight Line", Joe Sprinz, at the time in question, a member of the San Francisco Ball Club, attempted to beat the World Record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for catching a baseball dropped from a great height, set by members of the 1938 Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, who had done so at 700 feet, with balls dropped from a building. ( See also 1938 Cleveland Indians season
1938 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the American League with a record of 86-66, 13 games behind the New York Yankees.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
). On a day in 1939, Sprinz had a blimp hover overhead at 800 feet, from which were to be dropped balls for him to catch. On his fifth attempt, a baseball entered his glove at what could be estimated to be up to 154 mph. It slammed his glove hand into his face with such force, that he broke his upper jaw in twelve places, fractured five of his teeth, and was rendered unconscious. He also dropped the ball. This account was given in the book to illustrate how to calculate the answers to kinematic equations, especially working out the final velocity of the ball as Mr. Sprinz tried to catch it.