May 20th, 1976
Here is yet another Red Sox-Yankees’ brawl. Shocker, right?
This episode of fight club took place on a Thursday night in the Bronx in a game no one expected to be a focal point in the greatest rivalry in baseball.
The Yankees were in the lead by a slim margin ( leading 1-0 in the 6th) when Lou Piniella and Graig Nettles both reached on base hits. Otto Velez then slapped a single that led Piniella attempting to barrel over Fisk trying to score from second base.
Piniella blasted Fisk in the head with his elbow and then received a good ole ass whooping from the Red Sox catcher. Anarchy emerged at Yankee stadium as the benches and bullpens cleared.
The best part about this brawl was Bill Lee. Lee talked a boatload of smack about how the Yankees can’t fight and even used the term “hookers swinging their purse.”
During the fight, Nettles ran him over and drove the right-handed pitcher’s right shoulder and elbow into the ground. Weeks after the contest, Lee declared that he lost velocity off his fastball due to the fight.
He learned that you don’t mess with the Bronx Bombers without re-precautions.
