1993

[DOUGHBOYS]

Remember Joe Carter skipping around the bases, jubilant, in his game winning home run? A big moment in 1993, but as far as a snapshot in our minds, there was an incident in 1993 that more fans remember, even more than Carter skipping around the bases after his dramatic home run.



Nolan Ryan was the last of his generation in 1993.

Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, and Tom Seaver all pitched with the thought that home plate was theirs. If anything gets close to home plate, hit it, and it'll back away. Ryan came from that same school. While other pitchers of the era had become accustomed to not coming too far inside on hitters, Ryan still used it as a tool.



In 1990, Craig Grebeck and Ozzie Guillen went back-to-back with homers off Ryan. Both players only home runs of the year. Ryan lasted only five innings that day. A week later, he faced the Sox again. Grebeck, unsurprisingly, was nailed in the back. Ryan also knocked down Scott Fletcher after Fletcher had asked the home plate umpire to scan the ball for scuff marks. When a White Sox pitcher hit a Rangers batter later in the game, a brawl ensued. Bad blood between the Sox and Rangers had its genesis.



In 1991, 1992, and 1993, the two teams had minor skirmishes on the field. If given a chance, one team would run up the score on the other. The baiting from each other's dugouts was endless. It was 'in your face' baseball.



August 4, 1993. Nolan Ryan is set to pitch against the White Sox. The rumblings in the White Sox clubhouse were loud.

"The whole world stops when that guy pitches, like he's God or something", Jack McDowell said. McDowell also said, "He's been throwing at guys forever and people are just too gutless to do anything about it".



The White Sox came to a collective agreement that an extreme measure, such as charging the mound, may have to be used.



Many players in the White Sox clubhouse were turbulent. Mostly led by McDowell. Not part of the vocal crowd, but taking it all in, was Robin Ventura. In the clubhouse, he was reserved and more than happy to let others do the talking.



Nolan Ryan had been charged once before. Thirteen years earlier Dave Winfield had charged Ryan. Ryan had taken a step backward and felt the price. Winfield got in the only blows before the two were pinned under a sea of ballplayers.



After the Winfield incident, Ryan had resolved that if charged by another player, he too, would be the aggressor. "When someone comes out to the mound, they're coming out there with the intent to hurt you, and I'm not going to be passive about it".



When hit with the pitch, Ventura started trotting to first base. Then, as if suddenly remembering his sense of duty, he then turned towards the mound, took off his helmet, and ran toward Ryan. Frank Thomas would later say, "You could tell Robin didn't want to do it". Jack McDowell said, "When he went out there, he didn't know what to do, because he really wasn't mad".



When Ventura reached Ryan, Ryan, who had taken a step towards Ventura, cradled Ventura's upper body and head and started rapping him on the head.

Ryan, a part time rancher, called it a 'cow-mugging'.

Others would call it a big noogie.

For Ventura, embarrassment.



Ryan, almost double Ventura's age, left an indelible snapshot in his fan's minds. He would only start six more games before retiring later that year.



Ventura went on to have a nice career, mostly with the White Sox. When talking of Ventura, Nolan Ryan's name, invariably, comes up.



Ventura, of course, does not bring up the incident. When pressed, he once said, "The way y'all carry on, you'd think that Nolan Ryan was a combination of Clint Eastwood, Bruce Lee, and Larry Mahan".





Just fyi-

Since the incident, Ryan, of course, has gone on to the Hall of Fame and President of the Rangers.



Ventura, mangled his ankle in an ugly slide in 1997. He continued playing while the ankle deteriorated. He retired in 2004.

In 2005, Ventura became one of few people to have an ankle transplant. It was successful.

He received 1.3% from Hall of Fame voters and will not be on future ballots.



[ June 14, 2010, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

[Navel Lint]

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:



When Ventura reached Ryan, Ryan, who had taken a step towards Ventura, cradled Ventura's upper body and head and started rapping him on the head.

Ryan, a part time rancher, called it a 'cow-mugging'.

Others would call it a big noogie.

For Ventura, embarrassment.



This is one of my favorite White Sox moments of all time

[Dawg]

I have a framed picture with Nolan Ryan's signature showing his bloody uniform and blood running down his chin. He is looking like he is getting ready to pitch again so they must not have thrown him out of the game!

[DOUGHBOYS]

Originally posted by Dawg:

I have a framed picture with Nolan Ryan's signature showing his bloody uniform and blood running down his chin. He is looking like he is getting ready to pitch again so they must not have thrown him out of the game! Ryan did stay in the game and went on to beat the Sox.

Ventura was tossed and suspended two more games. It was the only time that Ventura rushed the mound.

[husky88fan]

Say what you will about Ventura, but I'll never forget the "grand-slam single" he hit at Shea.

[MadCow Sez]

I saw that ankle injury....cringe-worthy to say the least. It enters the equation with Thiesman's leg and Franco Columbo's knee.