Nolan Ryan provided quite a few highlights during his 27 year Major League career, setting the all time record for strikeouts and firing seven no hitters. However, his most replayed moment happened on this day, when young Chicago White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura made the mistake of charging the Texas Rangers legend.
Even though he was pitching in what would be his final campaign in 1993, Nolan Ryan was still an imposing figure on the mound. At age 47, he still had a fastball that could hit the mid 90’s, which coupled with his shaky command, made for quite the uncomfortable at bat. Still, by this point in time in the season, Ryan had yet to hit a batter, despite issuing 20 walks in his 30.2 innings over six starts at the beginning of the season.
That statistic changed when the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers met on this day. Ventura had hit an RBI single against Ryan in the first inning, and then White Sox starter Alex Fernandez hit Juan Gonzalez with a pitch in the second. When Ventura stepped to the plate in the third, Ryan responded in kind, hitting him in the upper arm.
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For a moment, that appeared as though that would be the end of the situation, as Ventura took a few steps towards first. Then, suddenly, he changed his mind, charging the venerable pitcher. Ryan responded by putting Ventura in a headlock and pummelling the hapless third baseman, rocking him with an uppercut before delivering several punches to the head. In the aftermath, Ventura ended up being ejected, while Ryan stayed in the game. He turned back the clock in this outing, earning the victory as he allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks, striking out five in seven innings.
This was not an isolated incident. The White Sox and Ryan had been at one another’s throats for the past three years, since Craig Greback, or all players, hit a home run off Ryan in Spring Training and decided to showboat quite a bit. There were the occasional beanballs, but the game on August 2nd, when four players were hit, set the stage for Ryan’s best prizefighter imitation.
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Nolan Ryan may not have been the same pitcher in his 27th season, but on this day in 1993, Robin Ventura learned that the Texas Rangers starter was still not a person to be trifled with.