Jimmy Piersall and Billy Martin Brawl
On May 24, 1952 –At Fenway Park Jimmy Piersall and Billy Martin brawl – first exchange insults before a game in Boston‚ then exchange punches.
The two firebrand rookies slugged It out In what players said was the climax of a feud that began in New York weeks ago when Piersall was thumbed out of a game for arguing a decision. Coach Bill Dickey of the Yankees and Boston starting Pitcher Ellis Kinder dragged the two rivals, not before Piersall had the back of his shirt ripped during the scrap. Several punches were seen e.xchanged. Piersall had been warming up at shortstop, and Martin was throwing in front of the Yankee dugout when the Boston player started in the runway beside the Red dugout. Martin set out after him, and the two tangled at the entrance of the runway. Neither player would discuss the scrap. Members of both teams said that the Martin-Piersall feud started in New York in a game in which Boston Manager Lou Boudreau protested a decision at first base. Piersall was chased from the game for jawing at the umpire and, during the remainder of the series, received considerable needling from the Yankee bench by Martin, who once was an amateur boxer appearing in CYO tournaments.
He sits as Ellis Kinder stops the Yanks‚ 5 – 2.
Starter Vic Raschi was working on a 1-0 lead, provided by Hank Bauer’s homer until Walt Dropo drove his fifth homer of the season into th: left-field screen after Raschi had walked Billy Goodman in the seventh. The Yanks evened matters in the top of the eighth on Gene Wood-ling’s double, a sacrifice and Johnny Mize’s fly to deep center while pinch-hitting for Raschi, in the eighth.
Dom DiMaggio greeted Hogue with a two-bagger down the first base line, a blow that so rattled the latter that he hit the next batter, Johnny Pesky, with a Ditched balL Don Lenhardt sacrificed both; runners and Hogue passed Vera! Stephens intentionally filled the bases. DiMaggio broke the 2-2 dead-; lock when Clyde Vollmer singled to the right but Pesky was nailed at the play on a throw relayed by Irv Noren. Goodman then laced a two-bagger over Bob Cerv’s head in center field to drive in Stephens and Vollmer and settle matters.
