Know the Absolute Chaos of Baseball Brawls

strike zone | September 21, 2015 | Baseball | No Comments

Video: Amazing video documentation on Fighting in Baseball

Whether they stem from a heated rivalry or a one-time slight, brawls are guaranteed to happen every season. Just ask the 2004 Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees or the 1984 San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves.

Some people might think baseball is boring, but you can bet they’ll be whistling a different tune once the benches clear.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres (April 11, 2013)
Brawls in the MLB usually don’t result in serious injuries, but Carlos Quentin changed that early in the 2013 season. The Padres catcher was plunked by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, so he charged the mound. However, Greinke ended up breaking his collarbone in the fracas.

Washington Nationals vs. Florida Marlins (Sept. 1, 2010)
Nyjer Morgan always could talk the talk, but during a game against the Florida Marlins on Sept. 1, 2010, the Nationals outfielder tried to walk the walk. Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad threw behind “Tony Plush” during a 15-5 blowout in the seventh inning, and Morgan took off running for the mound. However, he ended up getting clotheslined by Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez and wound up with an eight-game suspension.

Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals (Aug. 10, 2001)
Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney is responsible for one of the best baseball fights, simply because at the time, no one knew what the heck was going on. Sweeney was at the dish in the sixth inning, when seemingly out of nowhere, he charged at Tigers pitcher Jeff Weaver and ended up receiving his first career ejection. It turns out Weaver had been jawing at Sweeney, but it was a sight to see without knowing that.

Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs (May 20, 2006)
The crosstown rivalry between the White Sox and Cubs has a long history in Chicago, but it reached a real boiling point less than a decade ago. During a meeting at Wrigley Field on May 20, 2006, then-White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski barreled into fellow backstop Michael Barrett, who promptly sucker-punched Pierzynski. The result was a benches-clearing brawl, and the Cubs-White Sox rivalry has never been the same since.

Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers (Aug. 4, 1993)
Robin Ventura learned the hard way not to pick a fight with someone who has over 20 years of experience on you. During a game against the Texas Rangers, the 26-year-old third baseman was drilled by pitcher Nolan Ryan. Ventura charged the mound, but Ryan, who was 46 years old and in his 27th season in the MLB, was ready for him. Ryan had Ventura in a headlock within about five seconds and punched him in the face repeatedly before both benches got involved.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Oct. 11, 2003)
Postseason brawls are pretty rare, but of course the Red Sox and Yankees were able to start one during Game 3 the 2003 American League Championship Series. It all began in the top of the fourth inning, when Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez drilled New York outfielder Karim Garcia in the back. There was some jawing on both sides, but it didn’t come to a head until the next half-inning. Yankees starter — and Red Sox villain — Roger Clemens threw one high and tight at left fielder Manny Ramirez, and as you can imagine, Ramirez didn’t take too kindly to that. A brawl broke out and became controversial when 72-year-old Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer charged Martinez, who threw him to the ground.

Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets (Oct. 8, 1973)
Here’s another postseason fight that will live on in infamy. New York Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson made some comments after Game 2 of their National League Championship Series matchup against the Reds that didn’t sit too well with Cincinnati left fielder Pete Rose. So, when Rose took a hard slide into Harrelson on an attempt to break up a double play in Game 3, a brawl instantly broke out. Things got so bad that fans at Shea Stadium started throwing garbage at Rose, and the game almost had to be called off before Mets personnel were summoned to left field to calm down the unruly crowd.

Yankees vs. Red Sox (July 24, 2004)
Perhaps you can argue that a midseason Red Sox-Yankees throwdown isn’t anything out of the ordinary. But when Bronson Arroyo threw a beanball to New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez on July 24, 2004, Boston catcher Jason Varitek and Rodriguez started one of the most memorable fights in the history of the rivalry. The brawl stands out for its place in the Red Sox’s curse-breaking season, and the image of Varitek shoving his glove in A-Rod’s face instantly became iconic in New England.

San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves (Aug. 12, 1984)
Forget crazy fights. This Padres-Braves matchup in Atlanta was one of the craziest games, featuring not one, but two bench-clearing brawls. The tension started right from the first at-bat, when Braves pitcher Pascual Perez hit leadoff man Alan Wiggins. This is the first brawl of the game, which happened when pitcher Craig Lefferts exacted revenge by beaning Pascual in the bottom of the eighth inning. In the end, thirteen players and both managers were ejected, including then-Braves manager Joe Torre. Five fans who rushed the field to get in on the action were arrested, too.