Larry Granillo has a post up at BP talking about an on-field incident at the Astrodome on June 10, 1969:
Alou started in slowly and Torres hurried back. While the ball dropped just behind and to the side of them, their heads banged and they sprawled helplessly on the Astroturf.
The ball went for a three-run homer and gave the Pirates a temporary 4-0 lead.
[Pittsburgh trainer Tony] Bartirome reached Alou first. Noticing that Alou had swallowed his tongue, Bartirome pulled it out, inserted a rubber hose and inflated the hose.
This reopened Alou's throat and restored a normal air flow into the lungs.
"He looked like he was dead," Houston infielder Denis Menke said of Alou. "It was the hardest collision I've ever seen."
Umpire Al Barlick, one of the first on the confused scene, said "Alou's eyes were turning blue. Those trainers did a great job of taking care of him."
Everything turned out fine in the end, but...good God.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
