Saturday, April 13, 2013
Sports News


Players hurt in 'basebrawls'

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[April 13, 2013]  (AP) -- In the wake of the Dodgers-Padres fight on Thursday night that left Los Angeles pitcher Zack Greinke with a broken collarbone, a look at some of the notable injuries that occurred during baseball brawls throughout the game's history.

July 4, 1932 -- New York Yankees catcher Bill Dickey punches Washington's Carl Reynolds, breaking his jaw, after Reynolds bowls him over at home plate. AL President William Harridge suspends Dickey for 30 days and fines him $1,000. Reynolds doesn't play again until Aug. 13.

May 22, 1946 -- Len Merullo of the Chicago Cubs and Dixie Walker of the Brooklyn Dodgers fight during batting practice at Ebbets Field after Merullo and Brooklyn's Pee Wee Reese start arguing. Police separate the players. Walker loses one tooth and breaks another. NL President Ford Frick suspends Merullo for 10 days and Walker for five, and fines each $150.

Sept. 6, 1953 -- New York Giants pitcher Ruben Gomez hits Brooklyn's Carl Furillo on the wrist with a pitch, and Furillo charges the mound. After going to first base, Furillo charges the New York dugout, fights with Giants manager Leo Durocher and breaks a bone in his left hand. Furillo wins the NL batting title with a .344 average and returns Sept. 30 for the World Series opener.

Aug. 4, 1960 -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Jim Brewer brushes back Cincinnati's Billy Martin, who throws his bat at the pitcher. Brewer picks up the bat and attempts to hand it to Martin, who punches Brewer and breaks an orbital bone near the pitcher's right eye. Brewer needs two operations and does not pitch again until the following season. Martin is suspended for five days and fined $500 by NL President Warren Giles. On Jan. 28, 1969, a circuit court jury in Illinois orders Martin to pay Brewer $10,000 in damages for medical expenses. Martin goes on to be a manager known to brawl with players.

Aug. 22, 1965 -- Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax throws an inside pitch to San Francisco's Juan Marichal, and catcher Johnny Roseboro's return throw to the mound grazes Marichal's ear. Marichal says something to the catcher, Roseboro takes a step toward the batter and Marichal hits Roseboro with his bat. Roseboro returns Aug. 25. Marichal is suspended for eight playing dates and fined $1,750 by Giles.

Aug. 22, 1968 -- Chicago White Sox pitcher Tommy John throws a pitch over the head of Detroit's Dick McAuliffe, who charges the mound. AL President Joe Cronin suspends McAuliffe for five days and fines him $250. John sustains torn ligaments in his left shoulder during the fight and doesn't pitch again that season.

June 18, 1971 -- Cleveland's Ray Fosse gets kicked in the hand and needs five stitches after charging the mound when hit by a pitch from Detroit's Bill Denehy. Fosse returns to the starting lineup on June 24. Indians pitcher Ray Lamb sprains his right index finger and doesn't play again until June 28.

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May 29, 1974 -- Bobby Valentine of the California Angels takes three steps toward the mound after Milwaukee's Clyde Wright throws a pitch over his head. Wright comes off the mound to meet him and during the fight Valentine dislocates his left shoulder. He doesn't play again until June 14.

July 1, 1975 -- San Diego pitcher Bill Greif throws an inside pitch to Willie Crawford of the Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth, after Charlie Hough hits Dave Winfield with a pitch in the top half of the inning. Crawford charges the mound. Joe Ferguson of the Dodgers comes onto the field and breaks his right wrist punching Greif. Ferguson has surgery and misses the rest of the season.

April 25, 1976 -- Oakland shortstop Bert Campaneris hits Cleveland's Buddy Bell in the face with a throw after forcing Bell at second base, touching off a brawl. The Indians' Boog Powell sprains an ankle when stepped on during the fight and doesn't play again until May 21.

May 20, 1976 -- Boston pitcher Bill Lee separates his shoulder during a brawl with the Yankees that begins when New York's Lou Piniella crashes into Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk at home plate. Lee did not pitch again until July 15.

July 8, 1977 -- Philadelphia's Mike Schmidt charges the mound and throws punches after he was hit in the back by a pitch from Pittsburgh's Bruce Kison. During the fight, Schmidt fractures the ring finger of his right hand. He is ejected and does not bat again until July 12.

Aug. 12, 1977 -- Pittsburgh's Ed Ott goes in hard to New York Mets second baseman Felix Millan in a forceout at second base. Millan, with the ball in his hand, punches Ott, who picks up Millan and slams him to the ground. Millan breaks his collarbone and dislocates his shoulder, and never plays in the major leagues again. NL President Chub Feeney fines Ott $250.

May 4, 1995 -- California pitcher Shawn Boskie strains his back during a brawl against the Oakland Athletics that begins when Athletics pitcher Jim Corsi hit the Angels' Tim Salmon with a pitch, one at-bat after Salmon homered. Oakland's Mark McGwire was hit by pitches twice earlier in the game. Boskie starts against Seattle two nights later.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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