Glavine "banged up"

[Kiwideus]

according to FoxSPorts.com


NEW YORK (AP) - New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine was involved in an automobile accident Tuesday while going from LaGuardia Airport to nearby Shea Stadium in a taxi cab.

The accident occurred at about 2:15 p.m., Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said.
Glavine was "banged up" and taken to a hospital, according to Horwitz, who also said the injuries were not life-threatening.

The Mets were off Monday and Glavine spent the day in Atlanta, Horwitz said.

[CitySkyline]

Wonderful... :sigh:

[Misha77Piazza]

Yeah, he won't pitch tomorrow according to Duke. But I'm glad he's not hurt seriously though. That roads to and from both airports are so horrendeous and crowded. Very difficult to navigate through that.

[Baseball Guru]

Glavine loses two teeth in taxi accident

By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer
August 10, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mets pitcher Tom Glavine lost his two front upper teeth in an automobile accident Tuesday while going from LaGuardia Airport to nearby Shea Stadium in a taxicab.

Glavine also got stitches for a cut lower lip. He was to be released from a hospital Tuesday night and miss his scheduled start Wednesday night against Houston.

``I'm just thankful it's not worse,'' Mets manager Art Howe said after a 7-3 win over the Astros. ``We're looking forward to having him back, whenever that is. We don't know when that will be.''


The accident occurred at 2:15 p.m. as Glavine headed to the ballpark. The left-hander had spent Monday's off-day with his family in Atlanta.

Glavine was leaving LaGuardia in a taxi that collided with a SUV on the overpass of the Grand Central Parkway as he left the airport grounds, the Mets said.

Port Authority police and the New York Police Department responded to the crash, and the Emergency Medical Service took Glavine by ambulance to NYU Medical Center in Manhattan.

Glavine was conscious, Port Authority spokesman Tony Ciavolella said. Mets' oral surgeon Dr. Robert Glickman treated the pitcher.

Mets' team physician Joseph Bosco said Glavine was resting comfortably, and the pitcher was to go straight to his home in Connecticut.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Glavine was a two-sport prep star and was picked by the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1984 draft.

Once asked why he picked baseball over hockey, he joked, ``I had all my own teeth and I wanted to keep it that way.''

The driver of the taxi, George Kovalonoks, 54, of Brooklyn, and the other vehicle, John Struble, 40, of West Milford, N.J., were both uninjured, police said.

No summonses were issued, Ciavolella said. An investigation was continuing.

Glavine is 8-10 with a 2.92 ERA. Matt Ginter will pitch in Glavine's place on Wednesday night.

``Initially, we heard he was in a car accident with a bus,'' said Mets pitcher Al Leiter, who left a couple of phone messages for Glavine. ``All sort of bad things come to mind when you hear 'accident.'''

Also, catcher Mike Piazza and shortstop Kaz Matsui were out of the Mets' starting lineup Tuesday night.

Piazza has fluid in his left knee, an MRI showed, and he will be re-evaluated Wednesday. He did not start for the third straight game.

Matsui's sore back showed improvement, and he remained day to day. He had an MRI on Monday, a day after leaving the game at St. Louis because of spasms in his lower back.

[Liter22]

If he were a real man he would pitch tomorrow even if he was still bleeding and having dizzy spells. That is what I would say if I had just a wee bit less sympathy. Glad he is ok and didn't get hurt more seriously. The crash kinda goes well with his season so far.

[metsfan001]

Well, at least he's acting like a New Yawker takng cabs to LGA! <i>(nervous laugh)</i>

[Astro Annie]

Saw on another board:

Art Howe went on to say, "He could have been hurt worse if he had actually been in the cab. Luckily he was a foot outside."

Glavine then went on to complain that he had always ridden a foot outside of cabs, and blamed QuesTec for the accident.

[Sheafaithful]

Wow, kind of scary....losing your two front teeth like that must be painful...yikes. Glad he is okay!

but on a lighter note, I wonder if the SUV driver was a Mets fan, because he probably went home and told everybody in an excited voice: I was in an car accident, I'm fine but guess who was in the car!"

[Jodi2231]

but on a lighter note, I wonder if the SUV driver was a Mets fan

I have a feeling the driver was a Skankees fan :hmm:

But seriously, I'm glad Tom is ok. That sounds so painful having your teeth knocked out...ow! Hopefully he'll recover quickly.

[Panzram]

Tom Glavine
The New York Daily News reports that Tom Glavine is not close to taking the mound, following Tuesday's car accident that knocked out two front teeth. He may not make his next start until next Saturday.