Fight Night [Part 3]
Baseball fights are frowned upon nowadays, but they always take centerstage on Sportscenter. Here are more memorable fighting situations in history...
The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants didn't simmer down when they both moved out of New York. Things were just as intense in 1965 when they met in the heat of a pennant race. Both teams began their day with the aces on the hill, Koufax vs Marichal. The Dodgers didn't appreciate the knockdown pitches Juan was throwing, and with Koufax not being the type of guy who liked to hit batters, Catcher John Roseboro decided to send a message himself. With Marichal batting, Roseboro caught an outside pitch, but when he threw it back to Koufax, he made sure to throw it right by Marichal's head, buzzing his ear. That set off tempers and in the resulting brawl, Marichal would use his bat and hit Roseboro over the head.
So that blow to the head resulted in quite a lot of blood, and required stitches. But did Roseboro cower away after Marichal literally came for his head? Heck no, John was back on his feet (Marichal was still swinging his bat at anyone who tried to come at him. The umpire had to tackle him from behind) and looking for fisticuffs. Willie Mays had to run over and hold Roseboro back and lead him to safety so he could, ya know, seek medical attention for his busted open head.
Man points awarded to Roseboro for taking that blow to the head like a champ, and not pulling a Jason Varitek by cowardly hiding behind his mask when he was starting a fight.
Man points awarded to Roseboro for taking that blow to the head like a champ, and not pulling a Jason Varitek by cowardly hiding behind his mask when he was starting a fight.
Speaking of Catchers who aren't afraid to take their masks off and throw down, Austin Romine once upon a time took issue with Miguel Cabrera's prima donna attitude and had a response for it. Here you see Romine getting down and dirty with the Tigers star and executing several well placed body shots. I believe his +5 rating on his card is from how many blows he landed before he was finally pulled away from his victim.
Let's stay on the topic of Catchers in fights and turn to John Marzano. After Paul O'Neill was knocked down by a suspicious inside pitch, he had some choice words with the umpire about the intent of the pitcher. Marzano decided to butt in and get in O'Neill's face about it and a fight begins. What you are seeing above is Marzano realizing that all the protective gear in the world isn't gonna do you much good when an angry 6'4" Rightfielder who regularly assaults watercoolers wraps you up and body slams you into the dirt.
We end tonight with an all time classic brawl. Ten Cent Beer Night. Poor Jeff Burroughs was minding his own business, patrolling Rightfield in the midst of a tight game between the Indians and Rangers, when disaster struck. Fans, who were incredibly drunk by the 9th inning, decided to storm the field and swarm the MVP. Manager Billy Martin (because of course Billy Martin) grabbed a bat, rallied his team and led them in a charge to retrieve their teammate.
Mike Hargrove pretty much wrapped up that years Rookie of the Year award when he went to town on the poor drunk who thought he could go toe-to-toe with a professional athlete.
The Indians were the short sighted hosts of Ten Cent Beer Night, but the home team was defiantly not spared. Tom Hilgendorf took some blows from the drunken fans. The game would not resume, and despite tying up the game in the bottom of the 9th, once the fans assault began, there was no restoring order and the Indians were forced to forfeit the contest to the Rangers.
