22 years ago today, Robin Ventura made a terrible decision

[canderson]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdyeWgsa_R8
 
Nolan Ryan is a top 3 player for me all time, so I love rewatching this. 22 years ago, time flies. 

 

[ypioca]

Even Bethe Correia landed a punch. 

 

[Bigpupp]

I was a 7 year old sitting in the center field bleachers during this game. Ryan was my hero and I was super bummed that he got thrown out of the game, but it was damn fun to watch.

 

[MakeMineMoxie]

Lots of young faces in there.  I like how Hawk never mentions Ventura GETTING HIS ASS KICKED BY AN OLD MAN!

 

[phrenile]

I was a 7 year old sitting in the center field bleachers during this game. Ryan was my hero and I was super bummed that he got thrown out of the game, but it was damn fun to watch.

Ryan wasn't ejected. The brawl was in the 3rd, and he pitched 7 IP. Only Ventura and Chicago manager Gene Lamont were ejected.

 

[Bigpupp]

Ryan wasn't ejected. The brawl was in the 3rd, and he pitched 7 IP. Only Ventura and Chicago manager Gene Lamont were ejected.

Seems as though my 7 year old memory fails me, but I'm very confused. The game was stopped for (what seemed like) a very long time because people were throwing concession stand items on to the field. I always thought it was because Ryan was ejected but now I don't know why people were so angry (other than because they're from Texas, of course). I even texted my parents to ask and they said "because Ryan was ejected" so I have no idea.

 

[Lowrielicious]

Seems as though my 7 year old memory fails me, but I'm very confused. The game was stopped for (what seemed like) a very long time because people were throwing concession stand items on to the field. I always thought it was because Ryan was ejected but now I don't know why people were so angry (other than because they're from Texas, of course). I even texted my parents to ask and they said "because Ryan was ejected" so I have no idea.

At 7 years old you texted your parents in the year 1993?

 

[Bigpupp]

At 7 years old you texted your parents in the year 1993?

I texted my parents in the year 2015 about the year 1993. The answer they gave me would have been wrong regardless of when I texted.

 

[Lowrielicious]

Ah, that makes more sense.

 

[FelixMantilla]

Ryan was a headhunter.

 

[Leather]

It's too bad he played for a dog shit Houston team in 1987; he probably would have won his only Cy Young if had won even 14 games.

 

[RingoOSU]

I never realized until this anniversary that Ventura was the last batter Ryan ever hit. Guess Robin showed him! (More like he only faced 133 batters after that plunk).

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

I was shocked that this took place in 1993, I could have sworn that it was earlier than that. 
 
I'm not really the world's biggest Nolan Ryan fan, but he kicked the crap out of Ventura that day. 

 

[natpastime162]

Using his pitching-hand!

 

[threecy]

Using his pitching-hand!

If I recall, didn't he say he used the same technique on Ventura that he used to brand cattle?

 

[TheReal15]

I had forgotten that Ivan Rodriguez was catching that day. Boy, he had a long career. 

 

[Wake's knuckle]

Man... just realized by Bo Jackson was in that brawl. He doesn't look too concerned in all that, does he....

 

[djbayko]

Man... just realized by Bo Jackson was in that brawl. He doesn't look too concerned in all that, does he....

Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas had your ass covered as a White Sox player in a brawl.

 

[Average Reds]

I was shocked that this took place in 1993, I could have sworn that it was earlier than that. 
 
I'm not really the world's biggest Nolan Ryan fan, but he kicked the crap out of Ventura that day. 

 
The outcome of the fight was pre-determined the moment Ventura realized (halfway out to the mound) that you don't get a lot of respect around the league for beating up an old man.  And you can actually see Ventura hesitate when faced with the realization that "Oh shit, I just challenged Nolan Ryan to a fight."
 
Ventura eased up, gave Ryan a bear hug and never threw a punch.  He did try to stop Ryan from hitting him after about 10 punches, but that's about it.

 

[Montana Fan]

Seeing Bo's in the video brings to mind one of my favorite Bo moments.  It's not one of Dempsey's favorite moments as the result sent him to the DL for the only time in his career.  I heard Dempsey talking about the technique he used for blocking the plate and he mentioned this collision.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXyOjilp7u8
 

 

[canderson]

BUMP.

IMO this day should always be remembered.

 

[moondog80]

It's too bad he played for a dog shit Houston team in 1987; he probably would have won his only Cy Young if had won even 14 games.

Not many modern HOF-calibre starters have never won a Cy. Really just Ryan and if you're so inclined, Schilling and Mussina.

 

[Marciano490]

Man, Bo was just devouring a guy surrounded by 5 Rangers and none of them would lay a hand on him.

 

[The Needler]

Ryan wasn't ejected. The brawl was in the 3rd, and he pitched 7 IP. Only Ventura and Chicago manager Gene Lamont were ejected.

What's incredible is that after all that exertion, the 46 year-old faced less than the minimum over the rest of his start. Picked off the pinch runner for Ventura, and then allowed only a walk over the next 13 batters, who was gunned down by Pudge.

 

[soxfan121]

Man, Bo was just devouring a guy surrounded by 5 Rangers and none of them would lay a hand on him.

Bo could reprogram The Matrix; that shot of him holding five Rangers is just another example of how he was the greatest athlete of our lifetimes. He could do everything.

 

[Marciano490]

What's incredible is that after all that exertion, the 46 year-old faced less than the minimum over the rest of his start. Picked off the pinch runner for Ventura, and then allowed only a walk over the next 13 batters, who was gunned down by Pudge.

Ryan to Rodriguez had to be the best armed battery of all time, no?

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Look at Jeff Russell. "Hold me back, Tom Henke! HOLD ME BACK!"

 

[BuellMiller]

'93 was a rough year for White Sox players charging the mound.

 

[brandonchristensen]

<3 Mo Vaughn

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Counterpoint, Dayn Perry.

 

[Norm Siebern]

Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas had your ass covered as a White Sox player in a brawl.

The Rangers had a (pre?) roided Rafael Palmiero, so they had that going for them. Oh, and Kevin Kennedy.

 

[Norm Siebern]

<3 Mo Vaughn

Hawk: "George fell down from the force of the swing." My ass. Mo cleared him out.