Tag Page Softball

Why Chicagoans have mangled fingers

Every bent finger and swollen knuckle you see on Chicago’s ballfields tells a story—16-inch softball is a badge of honor, but it’s brutal on the hands. Players like Mickey Balestri have a whole collection of war wounds: broken thumbs, crooked digits, and tendons torn by barehanded catches. Local hand surgeons say the city’s unique, no-glove tradition keeps them busy every summer, patching up everything from “mallet fingers” to “swan necks.” Despite the pain, folks keep coming back for more. What’s the wildest sports injury you’ve seen or had? Would you risk your hands for the love of the game? #Sports #Chicago #Softball