ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Former National League MVP Kevin Mitchell threw a punch at the opposing third-base coach and was ejected from the minor league game he was managing Saturday night.

Mitchell, the manager of the Sonoma County Crushers, went after Solano third-base coach Larry Olenberger during a Western League game.

Mitchell had accused Olenberger throughout the game of stealing signs from the Crushers' catcher and relaying them to Steelheads hitters.

``He was standing on the (base) line, way out of the box so he could see our catcher's signs,'' Mitchell said.

It was the second time Mitchell has been ejected from a game against the Steelheads. In 2000, Mitchell was suspended for nine games after hitting the Solano team owner.

Mitchell hit 47 homers for the San Francisco Giants in 1989 to win the NL MVP. He also played for the New York Mets, San Diego, Seattle, Cincinnati, Boston, Cleveland and Oakland during his 13-year career.

Mitchell, a two-time All-Star, batted .284 with 234 homers and 760 RBIs during his career. He played for the Mariners in 1992, hitting .286 with nine homers and 67 RBI while limited by injuries to 99 games.