Edition: U.S. / Global

Cary Injured as Tigers Beat Yankees

By JOE LAPOINTE, Special to The New York Times
Published: September 17, 1990

The medics wheeled Chuck Cary from the shade of the Tiger Stadium corridor to the sunshine of the sidewalk of Michigan Avenue as police officers, security guards and curious fans looked on.

Cary, head propped up and still in uniform except for his spikes, blinked his eyes in the sudden light and then closed them again as they lifted him into the orange-and-white ambulance at curbside.

As the doors closed, a muffled roar could be heard from the fans in the grandstand above. Cecil Fielder had just hit his 47th home run of the season for the Tigers. The Yankees were on their way to a 5-2 defeat and Chuck Cary was on his way Henry Ford Hospital.

Knocked Unconscious

Cary, who had been knocked unconscious in a collision with his teammate, Steve Balboni, was undergoing tests at the hospital as the Yankees headed for the airport and a charter flight to Toronto.

Cary was released from the hospital later this afternoon with what was termed a mild concussion by Gene Monhahan, the Yankee trainer.

''I don't remember anything about the play; the first thing I remember is Gene saying I had to get on the stretcher,'' Cary said. ''I don't remember the pitch. I don't remember anything. ''

Cary said he couldn't remember his own phone number so his teammates had to call his wife and parents.

''I started to realize something had happened when I was on the training table in the locker room,'' Cary said. ''That's when I started getting scared. I never had anything like this happen to me before. That's why it scared me. I've never got on the ground before and not been able to get up.''

''He was out about a minute and a half.'' said Dr. Clarence S. Livingood, one of two Detroit team doctors who treated Cary. ''He was hit in the forehead by Balboni's knee.''

Pitching Well

Dr. Terry Lock, who also treated Cary, said that Cary's head also suffered a jolt when the back of it hit the ground during his fall.

The accident occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning with Detroit leading, 2-0. Although trailing, Cary had struck out eight batters and was pitching well.

A stiff wind blowing in from the outfield had affected several balls this day, including one earlier in the inning that fell safely after Alvaro Espinoza and Hensley Meulens of the Yankees collided in left field.

It proved to be a preview of the collision between Cary and Balboni. When Darnell Coles hit a pop fly into foul territory along the first baseline, Cary ran across for it while Balboni chugged down the line. The ball was drifting toward the warning track.

The Yankee media guide lists Balboni as 6 5-10.