On a late September night in 2004, something extraordinary happened that blurred the lines between a sports story and a near-tragic event. This was when Cleveland Indians rookie pitcher Kyle Denney was struck in the leg by a stray bullet while on the team bus. The incident, peculiar as it was, turned into a story of miraculous escape and an ironic twist of fate—thanks to a pair of high white cheerleader boots.
Kyle Denney, then a 27-year-old pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, was wearing the boots as part of a hazing ritual while the team bus drove through Kansas City after a game against the Royals. The bullet pierced the side of the bus and hit Denney in his right calf. In what could only be described as an astonishing stroke of luck, Denney’s injury was not severe. The boots he wore as part of his USC cheerleader outfit—a costume chosen by his teammates because of a football rivalry—were credited with protecting him from more serious harm.
“Our trainers said the boots may have saved Kyle from further injury,” team spokesman Bart Swain remarked, emphasizing the bizarre but fortunate circumstances that lessened the potential damage. Denney himself, while acknowledging the gravity of the situation, couldn’t help but see the silver lining in his unusual attire. “I’ve never been so glad to have a USC thing on,” he stated during a news conference, indicating the unexpected protective benefit of the costume.
Although the shooter was never identified and the reasons behind the random shooting remained a mystery, the event raised concerns about player safety. Kevin Hallinan, then senior vice president of security for the commissioner’s office, remarked on the randomness of the act, suggesting such incidents happen too often in the contemporary world.
Years after the incident, Major League Baseball implemented an Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying policy, effectively ending the tradition of having rookies don costumes that could be deemed offensive. MLB’s stance evolved from recognizing the fortuitous role of such hazing in Denney’s case to condemning the practice for its insensitivity. “Times have changed,” MLB stated, reinforcing their commitment to player respect and societal consciousness.
Relevant articles:
– Boots may have limited bullet impact, ESPN, Thu, 30 Sept 2004 07:00:00 GMT
– Three cheers for go-go boots after Indians pitcher struck in leg by bullet, The Spokesman Review, Fri, 01 Oct 2004 07:00:00 GMT
– Gunshot victim doing well, Lawrence Journal-World, Fri, 01 Oct 2004 07:00:00 GMT
– MLB Ends ‘Life Saving’ Hazing Policy, Washington Free Beacon, Fri, 20 Jul 2018 20:45:24 GMT