8/22/1965 - All-Star catcher John Junior Roseboro is involved in an altercation with Dominican pitcher Juan Marichal during a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on August 22, 1965 (in a tight pennant race, the Dodgers lead the Milwaukee Brewers by half a game, and the Giants by one and a half games).
Combatants
Earlier in the game, Marichal had knocked down Dodgers Maury Wills (after he bunts for a single and scores on a Ron Fairly double) and Ron Fairly with brushback pitches (legendary pitcher Koufax, sends the message back to the Giants by throwing over the head of Giants legend, Willie Mays). Both teams are warned by home plate umpire Henry Charles "Shag" Crawford (he will work more than 3,100 major league games in a career that last for twenty seasons) that no more retaliation pitches will be tolerated.
Crawford
When Marichal came up to bat against Sandy Koufax in the third inning, Koufax wouldn't retaliate, but his catcher, Roseboro, apparently wanted to. Roseboro returned Koufax's second pitch dangerously close to Marichal's face (which is extremely difficult for a right-hand throwing catcher to do to a right-handed batter, Marichal will claim to be hit in the ear). Objecting, marichal curses at Roseboro, Roseboro comes out of his crouch with his fists clenced, and bingo, let the carnage begin as the future Hall-of-Fame pitcher then hits Roseboro over the head with his bat three times, opening a two-inch gash that sent blood flowing down the catcher's face that would require 14 stitches.
Classy
The Giants and the Dodgers, who nurture a heated rivalry with each other dating back to their days together in the New York market, clear their respective benches and began a 14-minute brawl on the field before Koufax, Giants captain Willie Mays and other peacemakers restored order.
Escorted Off
Calm reclaimed, Marichal is kicked out of the game (the Giants go on to win the game 4-3, but the Dodgers win the pennant and the World Series, triumphing over the Minnesota Twins in the seventh game when Series MVP and Hickok Belt winner Koufax, on only two days of rest, throws a three hit shutout) and then suspened by NL president Warren Giles for nine games, fined $1,750 (a seeming pittance for what many feel is assault with a deadly weapon), and also forbidden to trave to Dodger Stadium for the final, crucial two-game series of the season.
Koufax
After, Roseboro will tell a sportswriter he could just have ten minutes alone with Marichal in the locker room. When the two face each other again for the first time in spring training, on April 3, 1966, the Dodgers catcher clubs a three run homer ... and then still mad about the fight of the previous year, refuses to participate in a handshake with the pitcher that Giants GM, Chub Feeney, and Dodgers GM, Buzzy Bavasi try to orchestrate (incredibly upsetting many, the Dodgers sign Marichal in 1975). Retired, peace finally comes to the old timers and by the 1980s the two men have finally become friends, and after Marichal is passed over the first two times he is eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Roseboro personally appeals to the Baseball Writers' Association of America not to hold the 1965 bashing against his friend. Elected to the in 1983, Marichal thanks Roseboro during his induction ... and when Roseboro dies in Los Angeles of heart disease at the age of 69, Marichal serves as an honorary pall bearer during the catcher's funeral, stating, "Johnny's forgiving me was one of the best things that happened in my life. I wish I could have had John Roseboro as my catcher."
Wonderful Times - Roseboro & Koufax Celebrate Series Victory
Induction Speech
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