30 yrs ago...46 yo Nolan Ryan vs 26 yo Robin Ventura!

[stevej37]

I still remember watching this...Nolan was a tough sob. The end of the tweet shows him getting a bunch of punches in. (to Robins head)
https://sports.yahoo.com/nolan-ryan-surprised-fans-still-114116607.html

OTD in 1993, Robin Ventura charged the mound.

46-year-old Nolan Ryan was ready. pic.twitter.com/eUdsPozJkv

— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) August 4, 2021

[Bob Kontak]

Nolan Ryan was ready because he has experienced these idiots a whole bunch of times.

I think he was particularly pissed off because he beat this kid's face plenty after locking him in. He could have just held him.

[Bugsinrugs]

I’d have been right there behind Bo… protecting his back.

[stevej37]

I remember him in his prime...just challenging the hitters with his 100+mph fastball, one after another. The hitters knew what was coming...and still couldn't hit it.
He was amazing.

[OK-944]

But what about Robin's distant cousin Jesse? What if it were him?

[speeder]

Yeah, that Ventura couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. Ryan is lucky that it wasn’t someone like Sano of the Twins, he’d be operating a wheelchair by blowing into a straw.

Of course, he’d never throw a fastball at someone like that, either.

[upsscott]

Nobody messing with Bo Jackson. Lol!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by OK-944

But what about Robin's distant cousin Jesse? What if it were him?

Nolan Ryan would have beat him like a rented mule.

Fearless power pitcher. I remember him taking a Bo Jackson line drive off the chin and he stayed in the game.

[matthewb0051]

Like it was yesterday. That was right before I quit watching MLB, forever.

I've been to a game at Riverfront in Cincy when a brawl broke out. Started by Lenny Dykstra. It is actually a bit scary. I was with my wife and it felt like it might spill over to the stands.

My fav memory of Nolan Ryan. Headache being "long gooone"

[Tobra]

That's right. That was not that long before they cancelled the World Series due to greed.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Tobra

That's right. That was not that long before they cancelled the World Series due to greed.

Yep, one of the issues was the League minimum salary. IIRC, at the time is was about $250k, for riding the pines. But they thought it should be higher. In the early 90s $250k was a bunch of money.

[stevej37]

[ckissick]

Although there was no fight involved, this reminds me of a pitcher's duel in 1963 between 25-year-old Juan Marichal and 42-year-old Warren Spahn. The game was scoreless into the 16th inning when, in the bottom of the inning, Mays ended it with a solo home run. Both pitchers pitched the whole game, both throwing over 200 pitches.

This is a good read:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/07/02/on-this-date-1963-marichal-outduels-spahn-in-16-inning-showdown/

[Steve Carlton]

I think Ventura must have been hit in the head before that game. He runs up to Ryan, pauses, then gives him a bear hug with his head at Ryan's chest. He taught Ryan a lesson with his head.

[astrochex]

I was fortunate to see Ryan pitch a few times when he was with the Angels. Truly remarkable.