By the Seat of the Pants: Ranking the Great Brawls
It is mathematically demonstrable that seven of the ten greatest hitters who ever lived wore a Yankees or Red Sox uniform, or are wearing one today, and that the Boston and New York franchises rank first and third respectively in pitching since 1900. At this point, however, the statistical tools have not been devised that would permit fans to converse intelligently about brawling.
Many would agree, however, that the dustup between San Francisco pitching great Juan Marichal and Dodger catcher John Roseboro at Candlestick Park on August 22, 1965 set a standard that is unlikely to be eclipsed if only because the criminal justice system is no longer as good-natured and easygoing as it used to be. After knocking Maury Wills to the ground with a brush back pitch, Marichal came up to bat in the third inning. Knowing his battery mate, the upright Sandy Koufax, would never retaliate, a vengeful Roseboro promptly took matters into his own hands. Ingeniously, he tried to bean Marichal a couple of times from behind the plate as he returned the ball to the mound, aiming first for the nose and then for the ear but missing both times. Understandably peeved, Marichal hit Roseboro across the head with his bat, opening up a gash that required fourteen stitches but did no serious injury. The Giants and Dodgers emptied their benches and the ensuing free-for-all lasted fourteen minutes.
While Marichal v. Roseboro established a benchmark, there is no consensus about the other engagements that should be included in a credible Top Ten list. Since ranking brawls is still a seat of the pants affair like hitting and pitching analysis were a short generation ago, it can lead to results that seem peculiar if not plainly false. In this category, one thinks immediately of the Top Ten group compiled by Jeff Merron which perversely and unaccountably failed to include any of the heralded New York-Boston brawls. Only by dint of their unremitting and valiant efforts against other squads were the Yankees able to grab a bit of Merron’s attention and figure in his selections. CONTINUED....
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