Caption this classic
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Hostile
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I don't have a caption, just a story. This is one of only 2 times Nolan Ryan was ever charged on the mound. The other one is not as famous, but every bit as great IMO.
The other player who charged Ryan was Dave Winfield. It happened in 1980. I added the video of that incident. At the time Ryan was on the Astros and Winfield on the Padres. Nothing happened remotely close to this but everyone wondered what Ryan would do.
In the interim Winfield signed with the Yankees and everyone thought to issue would die. Not for Nolan Ryan. He was chosen as the National League starter in the All Star Game and Winfield was on the AL squad.
First Inning Winfield was up to bat and Ryan buzzed one close and put him in the dirt. Winfield got up. Ryan put him in the dirt. Winfield asked him what the hell. Nolan Ryan told him, "don't you ever charge the mound on me again." He then struck him out on 3 straight pitches.
The other player who charged Ryan was Dave Winfield. It happened in 1980. I added the video of that incident. At the time Ryan was on the Astros and Winfield on the Padres. Nothing happened remotely close to this but everyone wondered what Ryan would do.
In the interim Winfield signed with the Yankees and everyone thought to issue would die. Not for Nolan Ryan. He was chosen as the National League starter in the All Star Game and Winfield was on the AL squad.
First Inning Winfield was up to bat and Ryan buzzed one close and put him in the dirt. Winfield got up. Ryan put him in the dirt. Winfield asked him what the hell. Nolan Ryan told him, "don't you ever charge the mound on me again." He then struck him out on 3 straight pitches.
TellerMorrow34
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Great story Hos. Ryan was just flat out awesome.
Hostile
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I highly recommend the book "Throwing Heat" by Harvey Frommer and Nolan Ryan. It is a compilation of short stories about Ryan by opponents, teammates, coaches, scouts, umpires, and sportscasters. It is an awesome read.BraveHeartFan;2880829 said:
That is where I got that story about Winfield. He shares the story in the book.
It takes you from his High School days right up until he joined the Rangers. I wish it was his entire career.
He is my all time favorite baseball player. I read a story just today about him where he walked up to a rookie in the first inning and said he felt like it would be a good day to turn some batting helmets upside down then walked back to the mound laughing. The rook struck our looking.
Intimidation, thy name is Nolan.
Doomsday101
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I was watching that game when it happened I almost fell out of my chair laughing. Robin Ventura bit off more than he could chew that night.
Yeagermeister
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Hostile;2880947 said:
That makes me think of the scene in Bull Durham when Crash tells Nuke to hit the bull. After he does he tells the batter he has no idea where the ball is going and to not dig in. :laugh2:
Temo
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Also, Dave Winfield was a bad dude himself. Direct quote from Ryan:
"After Winfield came out and I saw what his intent was when he took a swing at me, I told myself I was never going to put myself in that position again," Ryan says six weeks after the incident. "If Dave Winfield had hit me, he could have messed me up. I mean, really messed me up. I said to myself back then that I wasn't going to give anybody else that opportunity. If they come out to the mound, they come out with an intent."
That's why he took command against Ventura with the headlock. He didn't want to give up any ground if anyone charged him. He wanted to take initiative.
"After Winfield came out and I saw what his intent was when he took a swing at me, I told myself I was never going to put myself in that position again," Ryan says six weeks after the incident. "If Dave Winfield had hit me, he could have messed me up. I mean, really messed me up. I said to myself back then that I wasn't going to give anybody else that opportunity. If they come out to the mound, they come out with an intent."
That's why he took command against Ventura with the headlock. He didn't want to give up any ground if anyone charged him. He wanted to take initiative.
FloridaRob
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From Venturas perspective, "Sometimes somebody just has to take an ***-whoopin". (I actually think Ventura said that when Piazza would not charge the mound against Roidger Clemens)