| | Associated Press
CHICAGO -- In what is believed to be the harshest penalty
for a brawl in baseball history, 16 members of the Detroit Tigers
and Chicago White Sox were suspended Thursday for a total of 82
games.
Managers Phil Garner of Detroit and Jerry Manuel of the White
Sox were suspended for eight games each and fined $1,500 for Saturday's two fights
at Comiskey Park. Tigers coach Juan Samuel must sit out 15 for
throwing punches.
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Brawl bill
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Palmer
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8 games
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$3,000
|
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Higginson
|
5 games
|
$2,000
|
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Fick
|
5 games
|
$2,000
|
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Brocail
|
4 games
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$1,000
|
|
Polonia
|
3 games
|
$1,000
|
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Encarnacion
|
3 games
|
$1,000
|
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Garcia
|
3 games
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$1,000
|
|
Garner
|
8 games
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$1,500
|
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Samuel
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15 gms
|
n.a.
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Mansolino
|
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n.a.
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Weaver
|
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$750
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Jones
|
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$750
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Anderson
|
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$750
|
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Poole
|
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$500
|
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Patterson
|
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$500
|
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Ordonez
|
5 games
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$1,000
|
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Parque
|
3 games
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$1,000
|
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Foulke
|
3 games
|
$1,000
|
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Howry
|
3 games
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$1,000
|
|
Sturtze
|
3 games
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$1,000
|
|
Lee
|
3 games
|
$1,000
|
|
Manuel
|
8 games
|
$1,500
|
|
Simas
|
|
$750
|
|
Nossek
|
|
n.a.
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Detroit third baseman Dean Palmer, who charged the mound after
being hit by Jim Parque in the first fight, was suspended for eight
games. Parque got a three-game suspension.
White Sox reliever Keith Foulke, who needed five stitches under
his left eye, was suspended for three games. Chicago outfielder
Magglio Ordonez was suspended for five.
Nine were fined, ranging from $3,000 for Palmer to $500
for Detroit pitchers Danny Patterson and Jim Poole.
The penalties came a day before the White Sox were to start a
series in Detroit. They were the first ones issued by Frank
Robinson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations.
"Major League Baseball wants to send a message ... that
participation in these sorts of incidents will be handled in a
swift and serious manner," Robinson said.
"Altercations like the one that took place in Chicago last week
show a lack of sportsmanship," Robinson said. "It sends the wrong
message to our fans -- particularly young people. Fighting is not an
acceptable part of the game."
Deciding discipline became his responsibility when commissioner
Bud Selig dissolved the president's office in the AL and NL.
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Famous baseball fights
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1932: Umpire George Moriarty fought with White Sox players under the stands after Cleveland wins a doubleheader. Chicago claimed the umpire deliberately made wrong calls. Moriarty broke his fist knocking down Milt Gaston, but he is pummeled by manager Lew Fonseca and catchers Charlie Berry and Frank Grube.
1932: Yankees catcher Bill Dickey suspended 30 days and fined $1,000 for punching Carl Reynolds (he broke his jaw).
1965: During a game against the Dodgers, Giants pitcher Juan Marichal is brushed back by a pitch while hitting. The return throw from Johnny Roseboro whizzes by his ear. Marichal turns and clubs Roseboro on the head with his bat. Marichal suspended nine games.
1977: Rangers infielder Lenny Randle suspended 30 days for beating up his manager, Frank Lucchesi.
1984: In an ugly bean-brawl game, the Padres and Braves engage in two bench-clearing brawls. After Pascual Perez hits Alan Wiggins, Padres pitchers throw at Perez his four trips to bat. The second brawl involves several fans and there are 19 ejections total. Managers Dick Williams (10 days) and Joe Torre (three days) are both suspended.
1988: Reds manager Pete Rose gets 30-day suspension for shoving umpire Dave Pallone.
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"We researched this as best we could, and we think this is the
largest mass suspension ever," baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.
The players' union said it would not decide until Friday whether
to appeal. The penalties would not take effect until appeals have
been heard, and the suspensions would be staggered because of the
number of players involved.
"I know our club would rather go out and just let the best team
win," Chicago general manager Ron Schueler said before the
penalties were announced. "We don't have to prove anything by
going out fighting anymore. But knowing these bunch of kids, if
somebody gets hit, you never know what's going to happen."
The other Tigers suspended were pitcher Doug Brocail (four
games), outfielder Juan Encarnacion (three games), catcher-DH
Robert Fick (five games), outfielder Karim Garcia (three games),
outfielder Bobby Higginson (five games) and outfielder Luis
Polonia (three games).
The White Sox players suspended were pitcher Bobby Howry (three
games), outfielder Carlos Lee (three games) and pitcher Tanyon
Sturtze (three games).
Eleven people were ejected Saturday and the benches emptied
twice -- first for 13 minutes in the seventh inning and then a
second time for eight minutes in the ninth after two more Tigers
batters were hit.
Palmer charged the mound in the seventh and was ejected
following a rumble that started in the infield and spread to right
field. Parque hit Palmer one inning after Jeff Weaver had plunked
Lee, prompting an angry staredown.
Palmer, even though he'd been tossed, returned to the field when
a second brawl erupted in the ninth, moments after Howry hit Shane
Halter with a pitch. Earlier in the same inning, Sturtze hit
Detroit's Deivi Cruz.
In 1998, fights at Kansas City and Yankee Stadium resulted in
multiple suspensions.
Five players, including Orioles pitcher Armando Benitez, were
suspended for a total of 18 games after a wild brawl against the
Yankees.
Two weeks later, nine players and both managers were suspended
for a total of 38 games after the Anaheim Angels brawled with the
Kansas City Royals. | |
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Base-brawl: White Sox, Tigers clear benches twice
AUDIO/VIDEO
 White Sox manager Jerry Manuel reacts to being suspended.
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Frank Robinson says fighting will be dealt with swiftly.
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Ron Schueler respects Frank Robinson's decision to fine and suspend the players involved in the brawl in Chicago.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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