Braves History: Fight, Fire Mar Game Against Orioles

It all began with a fight between Braves first baseman Tommy Tucker and Orioles third baseman John McGraw. It ended in a devastating fire that destroyed the South End Grounds ballpark, and 170 other buildings in adjacent blocks.

It was a match that seemed destined to happen. On one side, there was Baltimore Orioles third baseman John McGraw, who essentially feuded with everyone during his playing days. On the other side was Boston Beaneaters, as the Braves were called back then, first baseman Tommy Tucker, whose nickname ‘Foghorn’ came from his loudness on the field in all aspects. It was inevitable that the two would tangle at some point.

That moment happened on this day in 1894. During a play in the third innings, Tucker slid into third, where McGraw was waiting with the ball. As he applied the tag, McGraw kicked Tucker in the head. The Beaneaters first baseman, not the type of person to take such an insult lightly, jumped up and punched McGraw. The two began exchanging punches in a fierce battle at third base, with the crowd cheering the battle on.

However, while the fans were engrossed in the fisticuffs on the field, something else was happening. A group of children started a fire below the right field stands, and the seats caught fire, starting what came to be known as the Great Roxbury Fire. While the fans began to evacuate the park, Tucker and McGraw continued to exchange blows. The fire began to rage on around them before the pair separated, saving themselves from the conflagration.

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The fire quickly expanded beyond the South End Grounds ballpark. Not only did it destroy the ballpark, the only true double decker park in Boston history, but it consumed $70,000 worth of equipment, a hefty sum in those days. When the fire was finally extinguished, it had spread to several other blocks, destroying 170 buildings and caused the equivalent of over $7,000,000 in today’s money worth of damages.

The Beaneaters would play at the Congress Street Grounds for a few months while the South End Grounds were rebuilt. Even though the field was in use for a brief period of time, history was still made there. Bobby Lowe, using the short left field porch to his advantage, became the first player to hit four homers in a single game, hitting each one out to left. On July 20, the new South End Grounds were opened; however, the distinctive pavilion was no longer there, as the original grounds did not have enough insurance for the park to be rebuilt in its entirety.

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A fight between John McGraw and Tommy Tucker was not the only cause for excitement in the Beaneaters game with the Orioles on this day in 1894. The Great Roxbury Fire began as some kids started a fire beneath the right field stands, destroying several blocks.