Q+A STEVE YEAGER Ron Kantowski, Las Vegas Sun. ... Yeager also invented the protective catcher's throat flap, an offshoot of being struck by a broken bat while standing in the on-deck circle.

Yeager, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1972-85, underwent surgery for a punctured esophagus nearly 31 years ago after the barrel end of a broken bat struck him as he stood in the on ...

The upshot, though, is that Yeager was standing in the on deck circle as teammate Bill Russell faced Randy Jones of the San Diego Padres. Russell hit into what seemed like a routine 5-3 groundout. The ...