Dangers of headfirst slides

[nextyear]

The last few days we have seen Dalton Pompey and Kevin Pillard make dangerous headfirst slides into home. In my opinion the Blue Jays should strongly discourage the practice since players often injure themselves. Although most injuries are hand fractures there is also the risk of a player breaking his neck as was the case with Cory Hahn while playing baseball at Arizona State - http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/05/14/no-longer-able-to-play-after-injury-arizona-state-cory-hahn-earns-spot-in-pro/. I am mainly thinking in terms of headfirst slides while running to a base or home plate, whereas the headfirst dive back to a base on a pick-off play seems to be less of a concern.

 

Here are a few stories regarding headfirst slides into base with many MLB players and managers feeling that it is a bad idea.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/73307718/anthony-castrovince-headfirst-slides-to-first-base-not-worth-risk

http://www.newrepublic.com/blog/the-study/86631/josh-hamilton-slide-headfirst-feetfirst-faster-speed-study

http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/17739626/

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2014/06/11/headfirst_slide_pioneer_pete_rose_says_its_not_always_a_good_idea.html

 

This type of headfirst slide should definitely be discouraged: (source: http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2014/06/11/headfirst_slide_pioneer_pete_rose_says_its_not_always_a_good_idea.html)

http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/baseball/2014/06/11/headfirst_slide_pioneer_pete_rose_says_its_not_always_a_good_idea/ian_kinsler.jpg.size.xxlarge.letterbox.jpg

[Boxcar]

Cue Harold Reynolds.