Fansided

Top 20 MLB brawls of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

May 29, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland (60) and Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) in a fight after Harper was hit by the pitch of Strickland during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland (60) and Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) in a fight after Harper was hit by the pitch of Strickland during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW YORK – MAY 20: Tino Martinez #24 of the New York Yankees hits a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on May 20, 2005 in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – MAY 20: Tino Martinez #24 of the New York Yankees hits a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on May 20, 2005 in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

4. Yankees vs. Orioles, May 19, 1998

The New York Yankees of 1998 were about to go on a record-setting rampage through the American League. By the middle of May that year, it was fairly clear that they were the class of baseball. The Baltimore Orioles, meanwhile, were coming off a trip to the ALCS in 1997. A return would not be in the cards. The Orioles were in a long slump by this point, and would not have another winning season until 2012.

There was an air of frustration surrounding this Orioles team, and it spilled over in the eighth inning after Armando Benitez gave up a go-ahead three-run shot to Bernie Williams. The hot-headed closer decided to go after the next batter, Tino Martinez. Of course, dugouts and bullpens emptied.

At first, it seemed as though the beanball would only end with a heated “discussion” on the field between the two teams, but then Benitez and Darryl Strawberry got into it. Benitez was seemingly fighting one-on-25 early in the fight and was throwing wild punches all over the place. Benitez got too close to the dugout and was pushed down the steps, where the fight continued. Strawberry got in a very clear sucker punch before order could be restored.

The Yankees of the late 1990s were dominant, but also unafraid to fight when the chips were down. There is certainly a code when it comes to throwing inside with intent, but when you do it out of frustration like Benitez did, there will be consequences.

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