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Big League Stew

Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:43 pm EDT

Happy 15th Anniversary, Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura Beatdown!

By 'Duk

Talk about your strange coincidences. Earlier today, when I was writing that Royals-White Sox "brawl" post, it occurred to me that Nolan Ryan's all-time great face-pounding of Robin Ventura occurred around this time of year.

I just wasn't exactly sure when.

Turns out that it occurred down in Arlington on Aug. 4, 1993, making it 15 years to the day that the 26-year-old Ventura foolishly rushed the mound, only to get locked into the 46-year-old armpit of Nolan Ryan where he had no other choice but to absorb a few uppercuts for the ages. The ensuing images ensured that his above-average pro career would forever be remembered for having his rear handed to him by a crotchety old Texan. 

Meanwhile, Ryan was about a month-and-a-half from retirement and went out by uppercutting some fist-sized punctuation onto a Hall-of-Fame career. Old codgers everywhere still celebrate the day Ryan put the young whippersnapper back into his place, though I'm still not sure why AARP hasn't made this the centerpiece of some advertising campaign. 

Remembers a certain ex-Rangers owner who was there that night (from USA Today):

"I'll bet you Robin Ventura wishes he never took a step to the mound. I was sitting right there on the front row. Ventura took about two steps toward first base and then headed to the mound. So, I had the view he had. When Nolan Ryan turned around, he looked like a bull. Ventura lost his senses and it was a fantastic experience for the Texas Rangers. It elevated the Nolan Ryan legend a little more."

So, happy Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura Beatdown Day, everybody. Make sure to celebrate by taking those you love most underneath your arm and treating 'em to a few blows. 

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26 Comments

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  1. crook3dnumb3rs
    1. Posted by crook3dnumb3rs Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    I was only 10 when this happened, but it is one of my favorite baseball memories. The look on Nolan's face was like: are you f-cking kidding, let's go b-tch. Then he just grabbed him and man handled him like Bob Barker did to Happy Gilmore. I always felt like he was the true Texas Ranger from that day on. Chuck Norris, eat your heart out.
  2. G-Rock
    2. Posted by G-Rock Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Ha! Nolan Ryan was the man, a man among boys
  3. pink princess
    3. Posted by pink princess Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    Good thing he had caught em' in a headlock.
  4. LaserLight
    4. Posted by LaserLight Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Both Nolan and Robin are nice guys. I'm sure they just got caught up in the moment.
    Both are laughing about it today.
  5. babblingidiot
    5. Posted by babblingidiot Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    I remember it Well! On an interview following the beating Ventura was laughing at Himself and he said. " I got about halfway to the mound and thought ... What am I doing?? I am charging Nolan Ryan ! " It kinda looked like Robin just wanted a hug?? Nolan Ryan gave him Noogies!
    The very best Ventura video was his slide into home injury! Foot facing the wrong way thing! Its so sick to watch! If you need a good cringe!! His knee was up and his foot pointing the opposite way! He was never the same since.
  6. babblingidiot
    6. Posted by babblingidiot Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    I remember it Well! On an interview following the beating Ventura was laughing at Himself and he said. " I got about halfway to the mound and thought ... What am I doing?? I am charging Nolan Ryan ! " It kinda looked like Robin just wanted a hug?? Nolan Ryan gave him Noogies!
    The very best Ventura video was his slide into home injury! Foot facing the wrong way thing! Its so sick to watch! If you need a good cringe!! His knee was up and his foot pointing the opposite way! He was never the same since.
  7. Toeless_Joe_Jackson
    7. Posted by Toeless_Joe_Jackson Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    When a man can throw a hundred plus mph faastball, it it usually an indicator that he can hit a face pretty hard too.
  8. michael e
    8. Posted by michael e Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    Excellent.
  9. jd
    9. Posted by jd Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    yep what a wonderful day i was a kid but ill always rember that i have the fastball card of him doin it.what wonderful memorys of baseball
  10. silverado71
    10. Posted by silverado71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Batters hated to face Ryan on his worst day. He was a real ballplayer.
  11. aaooggaa
    11. Posted by aaooggaa Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    It makes a great trivia question, "Who is the only player to get 5 hits off Nolan Ryan in one inning?"
  12. Eric B
    12. Posted by Eric B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    I was at that game above the third base dugout.
    i was seriously surprised at the look on ventura's face as he turned towards the mound. he was headed to first with his head down like he was ok with the base. he then, for some completely inexplicable reason turns towards the mound, still with his head down. after two steps he lifts his head and you can see the realization in his eyes that he is about to charge nolan ryan. his first steps are agressive, but as he approaches the mound, he drops into a submissive soft of "ok, i have this coming" posture as he basically agrees to the beat down.
  13. Eric B
    13. Posted by Eric B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    I just love my mental image of ventura's "oh, gosh, what am i thinking" look on his face. i think there were probably a few 4 leter words going through his head as he cursed himself approaching the mound.
    not only was this a great beat down, it was a great lesson in thinking about what you are about to do.
    name the other player to rush the mound on nolan ryan... dave kingman, in nolan ryan's rookie season. guess who got the beat down in that one too? check the score on that one rounder.
  14. Benjamin N
    14. Posted by Benjamin N Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    @12
    Freaking hilarious.
  15. Steve Eden
    15. Posted by Steve Eden Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    Ventura obviously forgot what era Ryan learned his craft in. When he started out in baseball, crowding the plate was an invitation to be beaned, and the umps turned a blind eye to it because YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT! Ryan probebly went easy on him when you think about it. What do you think would've happened to Ventura had he rushed Bob Gibson?... or Don Drysdale?
  16. DST
    16. Posted by DST Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    I was watching this game as it happened and my sister and I agreed at the time that it looked as if Robin half-heartedly ran to the mound from the beginning. Kind of an "aw shucks I guess I should charge the mound now" moment. Appropriate since Ventura always seemed an "aw shucks" kinda guy anyway.
    Regardless, he's still the best 3rd baseman in White Sox history.
  17. Moe
    17. Posted by Moe Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:28 pm EDT

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    Crazy!!!! It was like Grandpa's gone wild.
  18. silverado71
    18. Posted by silverado71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I wouldn't call a man who can throw fastballs at 100 mph a girl. At the time, Ryan was one of the oldeset guys in baseball and could still bring some high 90's heat to the plate.
  19. hodgespodges2003
    19. Posted by hodgespodges2003 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    I thought the who thing was foolish and I felt sorry for Ventura and the mistake he made; being caught up in the moment. The brawl did not show that Ryan was a mature 46 year old when contending with the youthful Ventura.
  20. chadero
    20. Posted by chadero Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Second greatest game I ever attended, right behind Ryan's seventh no-hitter!
  21. Stock
    21. Posted by Stock Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    I went to the Black Eyed Pea restraunt for breakfast the next day. I picked up a copy of the Fort Worth Telegraph on the way in, with Ryan on the cover holding Ventura in a headlock. To my absolute amazement, Mr. Ryan was in the restraunt with a group of Rangers players! He signed the newspaper for me and I have it framed and hanging in my office.
  22. rhymesayer 24
    22. Posted by rhymesayer 24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Classic moment in baseball.... Robin Ventura and I are from the same town I attended the same high school quit a few years later might i add but as a player and i was a 3rd baseman i set out to reach his numbers through my high school career fell way short in all categories haha..... he used to come to or school and talk during the offseason and at the end he would always ask if there was any questions every year some one would always ask how does it feel to get beat up by a 46 year old man sadly we never got an answer... Robin is a stand up guy though he still does and always has done a lot for this community from funding gyms at jr highs or having little league fields that he sponsors... thanks for everything robin from your gratitude to the many of memories on the field AND TEACHING ME NOT TO SLIDE FEET FIRST INTO HOME!!!!!
  23. HMC
    23. Posted by HMC Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Awesome!
  24. Max
    24. Posted by Max Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:57 am EDT

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    Someone shoulda taught Ventura a little ju jitsu. Now no one will ever get a chance to pummel this old bat.
  25. Joe F
    25. Posted by Joe F Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:13 pm EDT

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    Video clip of the fights: http://www.jokeroo.com/video/extreme-sports/baseball/top9baseballfights.html

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