On August 21, 1965, one of the most thrilling and controversial finishes in baseball history took place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The San Francisco Giants were facing off against their fierce rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in a crucial late-season matchup.
The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodgers had two outs and a runner, Lou Johnson, on first base. Up to the plate stepped the Dodgers' catcher, John Roseboro. Giants pitcher Juan Marichal, known for his high leg kick and fiery temper, was on the mound.
What followed was a sequence that would forever be etched in the annals of baseball lore. Marichal's first pitch to Roseboro sailed high and inside, narrowly missing the catcher's head. Roseboro, taking offense, stood up and threw the ball back to Marichal, allegedly grazing the pitcher's ear.
Suddenly, all hell broke loose. Marichal, wielding his bat, charged at Roseboro, striking him on the head with the bat at least twice. Both benches cleared, and a wild brawl ensued. Roseboro, blood pouring from his head, was eventually restrained by his teammates and coaches.
The incident resulted in a 14-minute delay and the ejection of both Marichal and Roseboro. Marichal was later suspended for nine games and fined $1,750, which was a significant sum at the time. Roseboro required 14 stitches to close the wounds on his head.
The Dodgers went on to win the game 4-3 on a walk-off single by Lou Johnson, but the game's outcome was overshadowed by the ugly incident between Marichal and Roseboro. The brawl highlighted the intense rivalry between the two teams and remains one of the most notorious episodes in the history of Major League Baseball.
