Are these the ugliest brawls MLB has ever seen?

While other sports have taken major strides to crack down on mid-game altercations, baseball still largely polices itself. If players fear that their safety is compromised, or sense that they are being shown up, they will literally take matters into their own hands. This has resulted in some memorable conflicts over the years. Fight footage is largely available on YouTube.

Things really have to get heated for teams to fight in the playoffs, but tensions reached a boiling point in the 2003 ALCS between the Red Sox and Yankees. New York bench coach Don Zimmer was incensed at Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez, who seemed to be throwing at Yankee hitters.

Martinez threw the 72-year-old Zimmer down, in one of the uglier moments in MLB history. Martinez would defend his action many years later in an article by the New York Post.

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The Red Sox and Yankees would again square off in a fight the very next summer. Alex Rodriguez was unhappy about being hit by a pitch thrown by Boston’s Bronson Arroyo.

He cursed at Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who shoved his glove in A-Rod’s face. This started a benches-clearing melee for the ages. Essentially Sports revealed that the two still aren't on the best of terms.

In perhaps one of the funniest MLB fights, 46-year-old Nolan Ryan found someone 20 years his junior charging at him during a White Sox-Rangers game in 1993. Robin Ventura was not thrilled about being plunked by Ryan, but found himself in a headlock once he arrived at the mound.

Ryan peppered Ventura with punches on the top of the head, proving age is nothing but a number. According to USA Today, Ryan is surprised that this fight is still talked about to this day.

Because it seemingly came out of nowhere, the moment when Rangers infielder Rougned Odor clocked Blue Jay slugger Jose Bautista was stunning.

Bautista was sliding into second base to break up a double play, and Odor clearly took exception. The two exchanged words, and Odor proceeded to land a right hook to Bautista’s face. Odor told USA Today that he had no regrets clocking Bautista.

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While he was with the Nationals, Bryce Harper had a history of taking Giants reliever Hunter Strickland deep. The pitcher felt like Harper milked the moments a little too much.

In 2017, Strickland drilled Harper in the back, and the Washington star charged the mound. Harper fired his helmet at Strickland before taking a few swings. Harper told Bleacher Report he had no idea why Strickland threw at him.

A confrontation took place right as a game between the Cardinals and Reds was about to start in 2010. The two teams had exchanged some barbs in the media before the game, which sparked the fire.

Cincinnati infielder Brandon Phillips and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina yelled at one another at home plate, which started a fracas. Even the two managers were jawing at each other in this one.

Miguel Cabrera is one of the greatest hitters of all time, and made contact with Yankees catcher Austin Romine after some words were exchanged in 2017.

It escalated rather quickly, as Cabrera shoved Romine, and then landed a couple of quick punches before teammates on both sides jumped into the fray. Romine would actually join the Tigers in 2019, and told the Detroit News there were no hard feelings aimed at Cabrera.

A 1984 game between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves devolved into a marathon of conflict. Remarkably, the benches cleared a total of four times during that contest, and 13 combined players were tossed. Even the fans were involved, as authorities had to get involved to restore order. 17 players would end up ejected, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

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