Colorado Rockies: The Four Biggest Brawls in Team History

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Even during some of the worst seasons, the Colorado Rockies have always had fight in them. Sometimes, though, that fight turns into an all-out brawl.

Few and far between, bench-clearing brawls are always remembered and compared for their memorable moments. Who could Nolan Ryan versus Robin Ventura when the Texas Ranger proved he could put anyone in a headlock? How about A.J. Pierzynski versus Michael Barrett that wrote another chapter in the Cubs-White Sox crosstown rivalry? Of course, there’s the case of Boston’s Pedro Martinez throwing Yankees coach Don Zimmer to the ground.

While none of those brawls had a Colorado Rockies player involved, there are still plenty of memorable moments that have happened when the heat of battle has simply gotten too hot for the Rockies and their opponents.

On the anniversary of one of the greatest boxing matches in history, here are four memorable brawls involving the Colorado Rockies.

Next: Two Rumbles in One Night Against the Dodgers

1993 vs. Dodgers

It was very early in the history of the Rockies franchise, but Colorado came out swinging not once but twice versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 15, 1993.

Andres Galarraga was at the center of the fireworks. After gathering a hit in eight consecutive at-bats, the Big Cat was brushed back by Dodgers pitcher Ramon Martinez in the bottom of the seventh. Galarraga earned a walk, but couldn’t avoid a plunking as Martinez accidentally (or not, you decide) hit him on first base with an errant pickoff throw. Things got ugly from there.

Still smarting from being hit with the pickoff attempt, Galarraga tried to steal second and slid into the base with his leg high, spiking Jody Reed of the Dodgers. Martinez retaliated by hitting the batter, Colorado’s Charlie Hayes, on the next pitch. Hayes charged the mound and he and Martinez were both ejected.

“If he doesn’t like it, he ought to put a skirt on. It’s the way the game is played. He just can’t stand there,” said Colorado manager Don Baylor, who was ejected as well before the night was over, said of Reed.

But that wasn’t the end of it. One inning later, Dodgers rookie Mike Piazza smacked his second homer of the game. The next batter, Cory Snyder, was hit on the next pitch by Colorado’s Keith Shepherd, who made a “come get me” gesture after hitting Snyder with the pitch. The Dodgers poured onto the field and obliged, with Shepherd ending up with a bloody nose.

As a side note, Los Angeles won the game, 12-4. You can see the highlights on YouTube here.

Next: After a Slow Build, the Reds and Rockies Tussle

Larry Walker by Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2000 vs. Reds

This brawl started brewing on Thursday night when Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Colorado’s Larry Walker had been hit with pitches. By the time Saturday, July 15, 2000, rolled around, the Reds and Rockies were at the boiling point.

Griffey was plunked again on Saturday, this time by Colorado’s Stan Belinda (a former Red, by the way) in the top of the seventh. Glares were exchanged but that was about the extent of it … for the moment.

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However, when Cincinnati’s Scott Sullivan hit Brian Hunter with a pitch in the bottom of the inning, the fight was on. Hunter charged the mound and ended up with the worst of the exchange as Sullivan threw three quick punches and pinned Hunter to the ground. Both benches and bullpens emptied as plenty of shoving and pointing ensued.

“I wanted to go out there, take off my helmet and hit him between the eyes … I wanted to knock his eyeball out,” Hunter said after the game.

Sullivan, Hunter, Todd Helton, and Colorado manager Buddy Bell were ejected.

The Reds won the contest 7-4, completing a three-game sweep at Coors Field. It was the 10^th consecutive loss for the Colorado Rockies.

“Thank God, no one got hurt,” said Dante Bichette, who was a member of the Reds. “I ended up grabbing one of my best friends over there, Terry Shumpert. I saw a guy who was very frustrated.”

Next: A Fight Breaks Out Before the Catcher Gets the Win

2000 vs. Braves

August 22, 2000, will be remembered more for Brent Mayne’s pitching than a brawl, but the Rockies and Atlanta Braves had quite the fracas just before the Colorado catcher made history.

Mayne came on in the top of the 12^th to pitch a scoreless inning and ended up earning the victory in Colorado’s 7-6 decision over the Braves. With his effort, Mayne became the first MLB position player to be a winning pitcher in 32 years and the first National Leaguer in 44 years.

As a side note, John Rocker took the loss and, in typical John Rocker fashion, yelled at reporters who tried to talk to him after the game.

Ironically, Mayne might not have ever earned the win had it not been for a brawl. Mayne was pushed into action after Colorado Rockies reliever John Wasdin was ejected from the game in the 11^th. Wasdin plunked former Rockie Andres Galarraga, who charged the mound after being hit in the shoulder on a 3-2 pitch.

Galarraga slowly walked toward first base before Wasdin gestured at him. Galarraga rushed Wasdin, and the benches emptied.

“If Galarraga’s going to instigate, he’s the one who should be thrown out of the game,” said Colorado manager Buddy Bell, who was ejected along with Wasdin and Galarraga. “What’s Wasdin supposed to do? Run out into left field? It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable.”

Next: A Dropped Third Strike Turns Into a Brawl

Matt Kemp by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2008 vs. Dodgers

Sometimes the so-called Dog Days of Summer can shorten a baseball player’s fuse. That’s seemingly what happened on June 3, 2008, at Dodger Stadium.

After what seemed like a harmless exchange following a strikeout, Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba were soon wrestling on the infield as both benches and bullpens emptied during the eighth inning of Colorado’s 3-0 win.

Kemp struck out on a pitch in the dirt for the frame’s final out, and the ball rolled a just to the right of Torrealba. The Colorado Rockies catcher brushed Kemp from behind before picking up the ball and tagging him lightly in the chest. That light tag would spark a fight as Kemp shoved Torrealba, who retaliated with a two-hand shove to Kemp’s face.

Kemp was suspended for four games while Torrealba was handed a three-game fine.

“I’m not going to say it’s part of the game,” Kemp said. “It was just two grown-ups that got into an altercation and things just got a little out of hand. You don’t really see too many fights in baseball. It’s not really that physical of a sport where people should be fighting. It’s not like hockey or any of the other sports, but it happens. We take this game seriously, and it is an emotional game.”

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