MLB: The Definitive List of Big League Brawls

(Original Caption) Los Angeles Dodgers' catcher John Roseboro suffered a cut on top of his head in 3rd inning during a bat swinging fight with San Francisco Giant pitcher Juan Marichal. It was believed that Marichal got angry when Roseboro fired the ball to close to his head while returning it to pitcher Sandy Koufax. On deck batter Giant Tito Fuentes (partially out of picture- right) pulls Roseboro away while Marichal wields bat at Koufax while umpire Shag Crawford and Giant coach Charlie Fox try to break it up.
(Original Caption) Los Angeles Dodgers' catcher John Roseboro suffered a cut on top of his head in 3rd inning during a bat swinging fight with San Francisco Giant pitcher Juan Marichal. It was believed that Marichal got angry when Roseboro fired the ball to close to his head while returning it to pitcher Sandy Koufax. On deck batter Giant Tito Fuentes (partially out of picture- right) pulls Roseboro away while Marichal wields bat at Koufax while umpire Shag Crawford and Giant coach Charlie Fox try to break it up. /
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#7 – Bryce Harper v. Hunter Strickland

To say that Bryce Harper owns Hunter Strickland as an absolute understatement. First, In game 1 of the 2014 NLDS, Harper hit this bomb off of Strickland. Then, in game 4, Harper does it again.

Harper and Strickland wouldn’t face off again until 2017. In the meantime, as CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder recalls, Strickland responding to Harper’s comments in 2016 about baseball’s unwritten rules being “tired” by saying,

"“I don’t think it’s my place to go against the rules,” Strickland said. “It’s America’s pastime for a reason. There’s a history to the game. I don’t think it’s my place to judge the rules.”"

To my knowledge or recollection, Harper’s comments have nothing to do with Strickland, but it seems that Strickland took the 2014 NLDS game 4 blast to heart. Initially, Strickland thought was showboating by watching the ball stay fair before staring Strickland down while running the bases.

Harper claims that he was watching whether the ball went fair or foul, à la Carlton Fisk.


#6 – Yordano Ventura v. Manny Machado

In life, Yordano Ventura was one of those guys that always seemed to be involved in one controversy or another. The young flame thrower wasn’t afraid to claim the inside of the plate by throwing inside at players on a regular basis.

That is exactly what happened between Ventura and Machado in 2016 between the two young athletes. Earlier in the game, in the 2nd inning Yordano threw inside a couple of times before Machado flied out to LF. On his way to first, Machado had a few choice words for the pitcher.

Cut to the bottom of the 5th inning. Yordano wastes no time in drilling Machado in the back on the first pitch. The rest is history.

Later that winter, Yordano Ventura would pass away in a crash in the Dominican Republic. He was 25 years old. May he rest in peace.