Countdown to the top fight. Best pitcher vs. hitter battles are here!

#10 In baseball’s top 10 pitcher vs. batter scuffles, Nolan Ryan’s number is called three times. In a match-up Ryan hit Mike Krukow with a high and tight pitch, knocking him to the turk. Krukow threw his helmet down and charged the mound. Ryan’s catcher, John Wathan, did what every catcher is supposed to do. He protected his pitcher, with a linebacker-like tackle. Ryan stepped to the side and watched. I’m guessing Ryan stood there with a little smile on his face and chuckled a little at the sight of his catcher taking down his opponent. Pitchers-1 Hitters-0

# 9 Dave Winfield took the next stab at Ryan. Winfield swung successfully in his attempt. Ranger catcher gave no fair attempt at stopping Winfield, as he was shoved away with just one hand. A crow-hop and an over-hand right landed directly on the back of Ryan’s head. Ryan must have been a street fighter back in his playing days, because he sure can take a hit. Ryan was able to wrap up Winfield and corral him until teammates came to his aid. In which time Ryan delivered his blows to Winfield, off camera. Which I cannot award point for because I didn’t see.
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Nolan Ryan’s name will be mentioned again later in this article.

# 8 Number eight on Sports Center’s top 10 features a first-basemen, Mo Vaughn, vs. George Bell. Boston Red Sox pitcher Aaron Sele throws a pitch behind Chicago White Sox batter, Bell. Bell charges the mound in frustration, throwing a completely arrant right hand, from left field missing Sele by two feet. Vaughn definitely practiced his deep pursuit drills before the game, as he lays out Bell on the mound’s rubber. Pitchers-2 Hitters-1

# 7 Mike Sweeney destroys the trash talking Jeff Weaver in this clip. After Sweeney asks Weaver to move the rosin bag off the mound starting pitcher Weaver fires back with a few ignorant comments Sweeney clearly disagrees with. Sweeney rushes the mound, as he slings his helmet at the scrawny pitcher. After drilling Weaver with his helmet Sweeney lays him out and uses UFC ground and pound maneuvers as he side mounts Weaver and drops bombs on his face. Pitchers-2 Hitters-2

# 6 This clip just infuriates me because Chan Ho Park’s actions don’t really interest me. Park lays down a beauty of a sacrifice bunt down the first base line. Tim Belcher picks up the rolling ball and tags Park out. Belcher and Park exchange words, along with some pushing and shoving. Park steps back and lands a little karate kick, which everyone seems to find fascinating, but not me. I give this one to Belcher. Pitchers-3 Hitters-2

# 5 Gerald Williams vs. Pedro Martinez. Martinez, in my opinion, is the worst professional athlete ever. Yes, he clearly is extremely talented and gifted, but he is the biggest cry baby in the MLB. Martinez gets drilled, knocked down, and stuck in the face. Once his teammates get there to help; they sandwich Williams and take him to the turf. Martinez, being the horrendous person he is, jumps on top of the pile and tries to get a few pity hits in. Pitchers-3 Hitters-3

# 4 Izzy Alcantara. ‘Nuff said. Side kick to the catchers chest. Pitchers-3 Hitters-4

# 3 Armando Benitez vs. the entire New York Yankee staff. Benitez drills the UT alumnus Tino Martinez square in the back. Immediately he is tossed from the game. The kicker though, the entire Yankee dugout and bullpen cleared before Martinez could even turn around to face his assassin.  Because Martinez didn’t even hit Benitez, I gotta give his one to the pitchers, especially after he was sucker punched by the druggie Darryl Strawberry, and still wanted more. Pitchers-4 Hitters-4

# 2 Bert Campaneris vs. his own pride. Having a perfect day at the plate, Campaneris should not expect anything less from a pitcher. You were hit in the foot with a pitch. I will admit though, you threw your wood around like a champion, but you came up empty. Pitchers-5 Hitters-4

# 1 Well, I said you would be hearing Nolan Ryan’s name again. Here it is. Ryan bounced a ball off of the New York Yankee, Robin Ventura’s, back. Ventura’s head was turned into mashed potatoes. As he charged the mound Ryan took matters into his own hands. He put Ventura in a masterful headlock and pounded on the top of Ventura’s head. Ventura, you took after your first name here, Robin. You fought like a girl and literally got his face smashed. Pitchers-6 Hitters-4

So, next time you watch a baseball game and think that the man on top of the rubber might be the most fragile on the field, think again. While we may not have Nolan Ryan still playing the game today, I’m sure the next street fighting pitcher is waiting in the wing for the time when some idiot like Ventura charges the mound on him.

-Kyle Bennett

Kyle Bennett can be reached at minaret.overtime@gmail.com

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