Hope that you are having a good evening. As the baseball season is in full swing, we have been lucky to see a few scuffles this season, however after watching the video below nothing can really compare. While, the era of instantaneous communications, had not yet prevailed this violent confrontation may be hitting your eyes for the first time and you are in for a treat. Over the next few weeks be sure to check back as I will be digging up some of the best baseball brawls of the past.
3. Orioles vs. Yankees (May 19, 1998)
After O’s closer Armando Benitez gave up what turned out to be the game-winning three-run homer to Bernie Williams in the eighth inning, he took out his frustration on Tino Martinez, drilling him between the shoulder blades. Yankee pitcher Graeme Lloyd became so incensed at the spectacle that he raced in from the bullpen to get in a lick at Benitez. The fight moved toward the O’s dugout, with Darryl Strawberry throwing what the Baltimore Sun called a “sucker punch” at Benitez, swinging so hard that he ended up in the Baltimore dugout. Then Alan Mills pounded Strawberry, bloodying his face.“I’ve never seen anything like that in 25 years,” said George Steinbrenner. “That guy … that pitcher … should be suspended for the rest of the year. That was a classless act. He’s got no class.”
Yankee manager Joe Torre agreed with his boss. “It was so blatant,” he said. “Benitez caused a riot. That’s the downside to the designated hitter. The pitcher gets braver when he doesn’t have to face the music.”
