The Marichal-Roseboro Bat Incident

On August 22, 1965, during a tense late-season game between the rival San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, Giants pitcher Juan Marichal struck Dodgers catcher John Roseboro on the head with his bat after Roseboro's return throws to the mound had come close to Marichal's ear. The blow opened a gash in Roseboro's scalp and set off a 14-minute bench-clearing brawl.

The incident capped days of tension between the two teams, whose pitchers had been throwing at each other's hitters, and it happened in the middle of a tight National League pennant race. Marichal was suspended for eight games and fined $1,750 but avoided criminal charges after Roseboro declined to press them.

Marichal and Roseboro later reconciled; Roseboro publicly supported Marichal's Hall of Fame candidacy, and Marichal has said Roseboro's forgiveness was part of what allowed him to be elected in 1983. The two remained friendly until Roseboro's death in 2002.