Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Jake Cain
We love baseball for a variety of reasons.
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In particular, fans often resonate with players who play the game with great passion. Legendary figures like Pete Rose come to mind, who seemed to play with a level of grit and hustle that most fans imagine they’d play the game with if they had the opportunity.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, players passion on the field sometimes boils over into benches clearing and punches being thrown.
Fortunately, we’ve got it all on tape to relive over and over again.
In no particular order, here are 21 baseball brawls and feud-fueled confrontations, preserved in the article’s original editorial order.
21. Bud Harrelson And Pete Rose
The infamous brawl between Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds and Bud Harrelson of the New York Mets was sparked by Rose’s aggressive slide into second base during the National League Championship Series on October 8, 1973.
After Jon Matlack’s two-hit shutout in the preceding game, Harrelson joked that the Mets pitcher had made the Big Red Machine look like him. In the fifth inning of Game 3, Rose slid hard into Harrelson on a double-play ball, and their fight cleared both benches.
As they tussled at second base, teammates joined the fray, leading to multiple scuffles on the field.
The situation was exacerbated by the charged atmosphere at Shea Stadium, where New Yorkers were rooting for their underdog Mets against the dominant Reds.
Fans then showered the field with debris, and the Reds left their defensive positions while officials considered a forfeit. Mets manager Yogi Berra and players Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, and Cleon Jones appealed to the crowd so play could resume. No player was ejected.
The Mets completed a 9-2 win at Shea Stadium, then won the pennant by taking the five-game NLCS three games to two.
20. Nolan Ryan And Robin Ventura
On August 4, 1993, a notable altercation occurred between Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura during a game between the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. Ryan, who was 46 years old at the time, hit Ventura with a pitch, leading to Ventura charging the mound.
Ventura charged the mound in the third inning. Ryan put him in a headlock and landed several punches before players from both clubs reached them.
Ventura was ejected, while Ryan remained in the game and pitched seven innings in Texas’ 5-2 victory.
The incident became a defining moment in the careers of both players. Ventura, who was 26 years old at the time, was widely criticized for his decision to charge the mound against the veteran pitcher. The fight highlighted Ryan’s tough demeanor on the field, a contrast to his normally reserved personality.
The American League suspended Ventura for two games. Ryan was neither ejected nor suspended, correcting the original claim that neither player received a suspension.
19. Jason Varitek And Alex Rodriguez
One of the most memorable altercations in baseball history occurred on July 24, 2004, between Jason Varitek, the Boston Red Sox catcher, and Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees third baseman. The incident was sparked after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch from Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo and exchanged words with Arroyo, leading to Varitek stepping in and escalating the situation with a shove. The iconic image of Varitek thrusting his mitt into Rodriguez’s face symbolizes the intense rivalry between the two storied franchises.
Both players were ejected. Boston later won the game on Bill Mueller’s walk-off home run and ultimately erased a three-games-to-none deficit against New York in the ALCS, but the chronology does not establish that the brawl caused the postseason comeback.
Following the brawl, Major League Baseball handed down suspensions: Varitek received a four-game suspension, while Rodriguez was suspended for four games as well.
18. Braves Vs. Padres In 1984
On August 12, 1984, the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves combined for 17 ejections, 12 from San Diego and five from Atlanta, across repeated confrontations. The trouble followed a previous-day exchange over Alan Wiggins’ bunt attempts, and Braves starter Pascual Perez hit Wiggins with the first pitch.
Despite warnings from umpire Steve Rippley, Padres pitcher Ed Whitson made several attempts to hit Perez in retaliation, ultimately leading to Whitson’s and manager Dick Williams’ ejections. The brawls continued, with acting managers and replacement players also getting ejected. In a notable incident, the Padres’ Champ Summers attempted to confront Perez in the Braves bench but was blocked by an injured Bob Horner, who wasn’t officially in the game.
Donnie Moore hit Graig Nettles to open the ninth, producing another brawl before crew chief John McSherry ordered both benches cleared. Atlanta won 5-3. The National League later suspended Padres manager Dick Williams for 10 days and fined him $10,000, suspended Braves manager Joe Torre for three days and fined him $1,000, and suspended and fined five players.
17. George Brett And Graig Nettles
George Brett and Graig Nettles are iconic names in Major League Baseball, both having remarkable careers mostly with the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees, respectively. Their careers intersected dramatically on October 9, 1977, during the American League Championship Series. The incident between the two occurred when Brett slid into third base and Nettles kicked him, leading to an on-field altercation.
The play came in the first inning of the decisive Game 5 at Royals Stadium with the series tied 2-2. Brett tripled home a run and slid hard into third; Nettles kicked toward Brett’s face, Brett threw a punch, and both benches emptied. Neither player was ejected, and the Yankees won 5-3.
The fight echoed the intensity of postseason baseball and highlighted the fierce rivalry between the Royals and Yankees during the 1970s. No suspensions were handed down, and both players continued to make significant impacts for their teams.
16. Yankees Vs. Orioles In 1998
On May 19, 1998, the Orioles and Yankees produced a long bench-clearing brawl at Yankee Stadium after Baltimore reliever Armando Benitez lost an eighth-inning lead.
The altercation was sparked when Orioles pitcher Armando Benitez hit Yankees batter Tino Martinez with a pitch following a home run by Bernie Williams. This act was perceived as intentional and retaliatory by the Yankees, leading to an on-field confrontation. Players from both teams poured onto the field, exchanging words and blows as the umpires struggled to restore order.
The Yankees won 9-5. The American League suspended Benitez for eight games, Yankees Darryl Strawberry and Graeme Lloyd for three games each, Yankees Jeff Nelson for two, and Orioles Alan Mills for two.
15. Carlton Fisk And Thurman Munson In 1973
On August 1, 1973, with the score tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth at Fenway Park, Thurman Munson tried to score when Gene Michael missed a squeeze bunt. Carlton Fisk tagged Munson after their collision, and the catchers fought as both benches emptied. Both were ejected; Boston won 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth.
Both Fisk and Munson were well-known for their competitive spirits and their determination to excel, characteristics that fueled the intensity of their rivalry. While the fight did not lead to suspensions, it cemented the fierce competitive nature of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry and remains a significant moment in baseball history for fans and players alike.
This clash reflected not just personal animosity but a larger competitiveness of the era, symbolizing the tension that defined the American League East rivalry during the 1970s. The incident continues to be mentioned whenever the enduring rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is discussed.
14. Rockies Vs. Padres 2018
On April 11, 2018, Coors Field witnessed a heated altercation between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres that escalated, culminating in a bench-clearing brawl. The fracas began when Padres pitcher Luis Perdomo threw a pitch behind Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado, seemingly in retaliation for earlier incidents in the series where Padres players had been hit by pitches.
Arenado charged and Perdomo threw his glove toward him before both benches cleared. Five players were ejected, but four were suspended: Arenado and Perdomo for five games each, Gerardo Parra for four, and Buddy Baumann for one. Germán Márquez, A.J. Ellis, and Freddy Galvis were fined but not suspended.
13. Jose Bautista And Rougned Odor
On May 15, 2016, Rangers reliever Matt Bush hit José Bautista with a pitch in the eighth inning. Bautista then made a late, illegal slide into Rougned Odor on a force play at second. Odor shoved Bautista and punched him, and both benches cleared.
Bautista’s bat flip during Toronto’s 2015 ALDS win supplied the rivalry’s background, though it does not by itself prove anyone’s motive in the rematch. Odor’s suspension was reduced from eight games to seven on appeal, while Bautista served one game. Jesse Chavez and John Gibbons received three games each; Elvis Andrus and Tim Leiper received one each.
The fight between Odor and Bautista reflected the sometimes volatile dynamics within baseball, where unwritten rules and player pride can quickly escalate situations.
12. Cubs Vs. Reds 1984
The baseball game on May 27, 1984, between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds escalated into a conflict initiated by a contentious home run call.
The Cubs, at that time, were enjoying a favorable season standing in first place in the National League East Division, while the Reds were second in the NL West. During the game, Cubs player Ron Cey hit a ball that was initially ruled a home run by umpire Steve Rippley, but Reds players contested the call, leading to a heated 30-minute debate involving players and umpires.
During the argument, Reds pitcher Mario Soto became particularly agitated and even attempted to throw a bat at the fans, resulting in his teammate Brad Gulden stepping in to prevent potential violence.
The initial home run call was eventually overturned, and both Soto and Cubs manager Jim Frey were ejected from the game. Following this incident, Soto was suspended for five days and fined. Despite the disruptions, the Reds ultimately won the game 4-3, but the Cubs had a successful season overall, winning the NL East.
11. George Bell And Bruce Kison
On June 23, 1985, Red Sox pitcher Bruce Kison hit Blue Jays left fielder George Bell in the helmet in the fourth inning at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. Bell charged the mound and kicked at Kison as both benches cleared. Bell was ejected, while Kison remained in the game.
Toronto won 8-1. The American League later suspended Bell for two games for charging and kicking Kison; the original copy’s claim that Kison pitched for Kansas City and that both players faced discipline was incorrect.
10. Juan Marichal And John Roseboro
The notorious incident between Juan Marichal and John Roseboro occurred on August 22, 1965, during a tense game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.
With a high-stakes pennant race in full swing, emotions had been heightened throughout the series. Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers and Juan Marichal of the Giants, both future Hall of Famers, were the starting pitchers in a match featuring several star players.
During the third inning, Marichal, believing Dodgers catcher Roseboro had deliberately thrown a ball too close to his head, retaliated by striking Roseboro with his bat. The blow led to a bench-clearing brawl, with Roseboro requiring 14 stitches for his injury.
Willie Mays helped move Roseboro away from the fight, while plate umpire Shag Crawford tackled Marichal. The National League suspended Marichal for eight playing days, a span that covered 10 Giants games, and fined him a then-record $1,750. Roseboro later settled his civil suit for a reported $7,500.
Years later, Roseboro and Marichal reconciled, and Roseboro publicly supported Marichal’s Hall of Fame candidacy. Marichal served as an honorary pallbearer at Roseboro’s funeral in 2002. The unsupported claim that both starting pitchers declined after the brawl has been removed.
9. Jose Ramirez And Tim Anderson
On August 5, 2023, José Ramírez slid headfirst into second base at Progressive Field and exchanged words with Tim Anderson after the tag. They squared up, Ramírez knocked Anderson down with a punch, and both benches cleared. After appeals, Anderson served five games and Ramírez served two; four coaches or players received one-game suspensions.
Take a look and a listen to the video above as the play-by-play guy switches into full boxing announcer mode during the fight and makes one of the most memorable calls you’ll ever hear.
8. Billy Martin And Reggie Jackson
The confrontation between Yankees’ manager Billy Martin and outfielder Reggie Jackson during a nationally televised game is etched in baseball history. The incident occurred on June 18, 1977, in a game against the Boston Red Sox, when Martin removed Jackson from the game allegedly for failing to hustle on a fly ball.
The argument between the two was fierce, occurring in full view of the television cameras and spectators, showcasing a significant clash of personalities.
Jackson was the Yankees’ high-profile free-agent signing, and his relationship with the fiery Martin was already strained. The dugout confrontation came months before Jackson’s three-homer World Series game cemented the “Mr. October” identity, so the nickname is context for his later legacy rather than the cause of this June dispute.
Although no suspensions resulted from this specific scuffle, it underscored the ongoing struggle within the sport between discipline and player individuality.
Billy Martin’s and Reggie Jackson’s legacies include their hallmarked roles in some of baseball’s memorable brawls, with their volatile relationship defining an era of Yankees history. Their mutual competitiveness helped lead the team to success, despite such public conflicts. The altercation highlighted the pressure-cooker environment of New York baseball and remains a topic of discussion among baseball historians.
7. Twins Vs. Tigers In 1982
On May 14, 1982, at Tiger Stadium, the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers emptied the benches twice in a game that lasted 11 innings.
Two brawls broke out during the game, resulting in multiple ejections and injuries. The confrontations began when Twins’ starter Pete Redfern hit the Tigers’ Chet Lemon with a pitch, inciting Lemon to charge the mound and sparking a bench-clearing fight. Lemon was ejected following the melee.
In the 11th, Twins reliever Ron Davis brushed back Enos Cabell, prompting the second brawl. Cabell and Richie Hebner of Detroit and Jesús Vega and Davis of Minnesota were ejected. Tigers pitcher Dave Rozema tried a flying kick at John Castino, missed, and tore ligaments in his knee; he left on a stretcher and missed the rest of the season.
After play resumed, Lynn Jones singled and Kirk Gibson hit a two-out, two-run home run off Terry Felton to give Detroit a 4-2 victory.
6. Cardinals Vs. Giants In 1988
The brawl between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants on July 24, 1988, at Busch Stadium was sparked by a controversial slide into second base. The bad blood stemmed from their previous encounter in the National League Championship Series, which the Cardinals won. The eighth inning of the game saw Giants’ Will Clark slide hard into second base to disrupt a potential double play after a ground ball hit by Candy Maldonado. Ozzie Smith, the Cardinal’s shortstop, and second baseman Jose Oquendo took exception to what they considered an aggressive and unnecessary slide by Clark.
Clark, who perceived his slide as clean, was confronted by Smith and Oquendo after the play. An altercation ensued when Oquendo either kneed or kicked Clark and then slapped him as he tried to get up. Smith then punched Clark from behind, which Clark labeled as a “cheap shot.” The fight escalated when Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog defended his players’ actions, asserting that any shortstop and second baseman would have responded similarly.
Smith, already frustrated by what he saw as unchecked intimidation by the Giants, particularly Clark, expressed the need for the Cardinals to toughen up and not be bullied. Clark criticized Smith’s actions, expecting a direct confrontation instead of being attacked from behind.
The melee resulted in the ejections of Clark and Oquendo, while Smith, who was also involved in the fight, was not ejected because the umpire Dutch Rennert did not see him land any punches. The incident continued to affect the game when Cardinals pitcher Scott Terry threw a purpose pitch close to Giants’ Mike Aldrete’s head, leading to his ejection and both benches clearing for the second time. Terry’s actions reflected the Cardinals’ sentiment that they needed to stand up to the Giants’ aggressive play.
In the end, although the game resumed and no further punches were thrown, the incident remained a significant clash between the two teams, both physically and in terms of baseball philosophy, with varying interpretations of aggressive play and how it should be handled on the field.
5. Reds Vs. Cardinals In 2010
The 2010 season saw heightened tensions between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals culminate in a notorious brawl. On August 10, during a series pivotal for division standings, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips’ comments about the Cardinals sparked animosity, setting the stage for conflict.
Phillips tapped Yadier Molina’s shin guard before his first-inning plate appearance, Molina objected, and both benches cleared. Pinned against the backstop, Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto kicked at players around him. Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue sustained a concussion, did not play again, and later retired after his symptoms persisted.
Cueto received a seven-game suspension. Managers Dusty Baker and Tony La Russa each received two-game suspensions and fines, while Brandon Phillips, Yadier Molina, Chris Carpenter, and Russ Springer were fined.
4. Bryce Harper And Hunter Strickland
On May 29, 2017, the baseball world witnessed a fiery confrontation between Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals and Hunter Strickland of the San Francisco Giants. This animosity stemmed from the 2014 NLDS when Harper hit two home runs off Strickland, which seemingly precipitated the bad blood between them. Their clash escalated quickly as Harper charged the mound after being hit by a pitch from Strickland, resulting in fists flying and both benches emptying in a bench-clearing brawl.
MLB suspended Strickland for six games and initially suspended Harper for four. Harper’s penalty was reduced to three games on appeal, and both players were fined.
The incident became one of the most talked-about fights in recent baseball history, not just for its intensity but also for the history leading up to it. It served as a reminder that tensions in baseball can run high and personal rivalries are often hard to leave behind, even as players move between teams.
3. Reds Vs. Pirates In 2019
The 2019 baseball season witnessed one of the intense clashes between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates. On July 30, a brawl erupted following a series of hit-by-pitches and escalating tensions over the course of their matchups. Earlier tensions were stoked in April when Pirates pitcher Chris Archer threw behind Reds first baseman Derek Dietrich, who had admired a home run.
In the seventh inning, Keone Kela threw high and inside to Dietrich. In the ninth, Jared Hughes hit Starling Marte and was ejected. Amir Garrett entered, exchanged words with Pittsburgh’s bench, then charged the Pirates dugout and threw a punch at Trevor Williams, starting a five-minute melee.
MLB suspended six players and both managers: Kela for 10 games, Garrett for eight, José Osuna for five, Jared Hughes, Kyle Crick, and Yasiel Puig for three each, Reds manager David Bell for six, and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle for two.
2. Reggie Jackson And John Denny
On September 23, 1981, at Yankee Stadium, Cleveland starter John Denny knocked Reggie Jackson down with an inside pitch before striking him out in the second inning. Jackson moved toward the mound, both benches cleared, and teammates restrained him. Plate umpire Dale Ford warned both clubs and ejected Yankees coach Joe Altobelli for arguing.
Later in the game, after order was restored, Jackson avenged the brushback pitch by hitting a two-run home run off Denny. Jackson’s dramatic theatrics while rounding the bases, which included a fist pump and tipping his cap to the crowd, provoked Denny and led to another bench-clearing brawl involving serious fights.
Both Jackson and Denny were ejected after this second altercation.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, displeased with the event, threatened legal action against any pitcher who would intentionally throw at a Yankees batter in the future
1. Tim Belcher And Chan Ho Park
The altercation between Tim Belcher and Chan Ho Park is a notable event in baseball skirmishes. Park, a pitcher known as the first South Korean-born player in MLB, was involved in a physical incident during a game while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On June 5, 1999, during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium, Belcher fielded Park’s sacrifice bunt and tagged him out. Park believed the tag was unnecessarily hard, and the pitchers exchanged words.
Park struck Belcher in the face with his forearm and followed with a leaping kick, clearing both benches. Park was ejected, suspended for seven games, and fined $3,000. Belcher was not ejected or suspended, correcting both claims in the original copy.
