June 21, 1967: The Yanks-Sox '67 Brawl

June 21, 1967: The New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. The rivalry between the team had been dormant for nearly a generation, since the Yankees had been great and the Sox had been far out of the race. In 1965, the Yankees collapsed, and in 1966, they got edged by the Red Sox for last place in the American League. Now, the situation was reversed: The Yankees were still struggling, and the Red Sox were challenging for the Pennant.

Carl Yastrzemski was a big reason why, and would go on to win the Triple Crown. Another big reason was Jim Lonborg, who would go on to win the Cy Young Award. Lonborg started this game, against Thad Tillotson.

The Sox already led 4-0, including a home run by Tony Conigliaro, in the top of the 2nd inning, when Tillotson hit Joe Foy in the head with a pitch. If it was done on purpose, it was a stupid thing to do: It loaded the bases, with only 1 out, and Yaz and Tony C up next. At 4-0, the game was still within legitimate reach; anything more than that, and it really wouldn't have been. Yaz singled Mike Andrews home to make it 5-0.

In the bottom of the 2nd, with 2 out and Tom Tresh on 1st base, Tillotson came up to bat. There would be no designated hitter in the American League until 1973. Lonborg, known as "Gentleman Jim" but already known as a pitcher who would hit a batter when necessary, beaned Tillotson.

The benches emptied slowly, as the first the Yankees, then the Red Sox, walked out of their dugouts slowly, as if they're not sure that they want to do this. But after a few seconds, all hell broke loose. It became one of the nastiest brawls in baseball history, and it may be the earliest one preserved in any kind of video.

The fight was, more or less, a draw. The game was a Boston win: George Scott hit a home run in the 3rd inning, Yaz and Tony C had back-to-back RBI singles in the 4th, and the only Yankee run was unearned, coming on an error in the bottom of the 5th. Red Sox 8, Yankees 1. Mickey Mantle went 2-for-3 with a walk.

Despite the acrimony from this brawl, this was an anomaly in the teams' relationship in the era. It was not the beginning of the modern Yanks-Sox rivalry. That was still to come.

Foy was later to be a part of one of the biggest bonehead trades in history -- not surprisingly, by the New York Mets.

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June 21, 1967 was a Wednesday. Basketball star Derrick Coleman was born. So was comedian Jim Breuer, who has worked being a fan of the Mets into his routine.

These other baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0 at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Jack Fisher pitched a 2-hit shutout to beat Jim Bunning.

* The Baltimore Orioles beat the Kansas City Athletics, 5-4 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Frank Robinson went 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs. Brooks Robinson went 0-for-3.

* The Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Ernie Banks did not play for the Cubs. Willie Stargell did not play for the Pirates. Roberto Clemente went 0-for-3, but drew a walk and had an RBI on a groundout.

* The Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers were tied, 5-5 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, when it was called in the middle of the 9th inning due to rain. All statistics counted. Harmon Killebrew hit 2 home runs, and Rod Carew, then a rookie and never to be known for power hitting, also hit one. Al Kaline and Dick McAuliffe homered for the Tigers. The next day was a day off for both teams, so the game was replayed, and the Tigers won, 5-2. The Tigers got 2 homers from Kaline and 1 from Norm Cash.

* The Chicago White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Washington Senators, 5-2 and 2-1 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

* The Cincinnati Reds beat the Houston Astros, 3-2 at the Astrodome in Houston. In a rarity during his career, Pete Rose was nursing an injury, and did not play.

* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-0 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Cards needed 3 pitchers (Ray Washburn for 6 1/3 innings, Joe Hoerner for 2 1/3rd, and Nelson Briles for 1 out) to pitch a 4-hit shutout and beat Don Drysdale. Lou Brock went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Roger Maris went 0-for-4.

* The Atlanta Braves beat the San Francisco Giants, 9-2 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Hank Aaron went 1-for-4 with a walk. Willie Mays went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

* And the California Angels and the Cleveland Indians were rained out at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The game was made up on August 21. The Angels won, 6-4.