# Baseball: Is it considered wrong to NOT join your teammates in clearing the benches in a brawl? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [April 20, 2020, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167 "2020-04-20T05:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/21 "2020-04-21T16:43:36Z")
when did baseball start the automatic pitcher ejection for beanballs? I know it’s been a rule for a while ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/22 "2020-04-21T16:50:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > when did baseball start the automatic pitcher ejection for beanballs? I know it’s been a rule for a while The umpire has been able to use his judgement to eject a pitcher since [MLB Rule 8.02(d)](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2007/08_the_pitcher.pdf)was written. I don’t know that automatic ejection is an MLB rule. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/23 "2020-04-21T17:46:01Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > when did baseball start the automatic pitcher ejection for beanballs? I know it’s been a rule for a while Actually, it isn’t a rule. Generally, after the first beanball happens the umpire will warn both benches, and the next time a pitcher throws at a batter (whether they hit them or not) it is an automatic ejection for the pitcher and the manager. Often, both benches will be warned. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/24 "2020-04-21T18:12:10Z")
Sounds like an unwritten rule. Sort of like don’t steal a base if you are way ahead late in the game. And don’t bunt to get on base if the pitcher has a no hitter going. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/25 "2020-04-21T18:29:44Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Sounds like an unwritten rule. It’s implemented by the umpires, so it’s not an unwritten rule. They’re going by guidelines and directives from MLB, and the rules specifically give them this authority. Unwritten rules are enforced by players. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/26 "2020-04-21T18:59:27Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The fact is that baseball fights are about the wimpiest fights known to man, with a few rare but spectacular exceptions. Link to an article about the Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan fight story > **[The Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan fight story you haven't heard](https://www.nbcsportschicago.com/mlb/chicago-white-sox/the-robin-ventura-nolan-ryan-fight-story-you-havent-heard/305510/)** > > This story was originally published on CSNChicago.com on March 2, 2012. Today marks the 22-year anniversary of the Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan fight. GLENDALE, Ariz. — Aug. 4, 1993, might have been just one day on the calendar, but for Robin... ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/27 "2020-04-22T02:58:41Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > because it reminds me of ketchup and mustard on a ballpark frankfurter. Ketchup on a hot dog? Now there is something to fight about. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/28 "2020-04-22T10:37:33Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The suspense and drama of a hockey goalie fight is one of the sport’s most epic battles. Because of the penalties for coming off the bench, hockey fights have to take place with the players on the ice. The slow skate forward from the net, the recognition across the rink, the squaring off and shedding of gear, and the general awkwardness of trying to fight wearing all that padding, and the rarity make for must see TV. [A goalie fight from earlier this year.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmmVD_YrK-Y) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/29 "2020-04-22T14:40:19Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Sounds like an unwritten rule. Sort of like don’t steal a base if you are way ahead late in the game. And don’t bunt to get on base if the pitcher has a no hitter going. 25 unwritten rules of baseball… > **[Baseball's 25 Biggest Unwritten Rules](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1146901-baseballs-25-biggest-unwritten-rules)** > > We all know the main rules of baseball, as well as any other sport that we follow. Even the more advanced rules are generally common knowledge, at least to those that follow the game... And some unwritten rules of umpiring… > **[The Unwritten Rules of Umpiring](https://umpire-empire.com/topic/2124-the-unwritten-rules-of-umpiring/)** > > Last week on the "Hit by pitch in dirt" thread, UIC wrote the following post- I don't think there is an official interpretation on this. It is more like other unwritten rules of umpiring. --In the dirt and hits him the batter gets 1st. --Catcher... Unwritten rules for sports officials in general… > **[16 Unwritten Rules Of Officiating - Referee.com](https://www.referee.com/16-unwritten-rules-of-officiating/)** > > 1. When you “think” you saw something, YOU DIDN’T. There are times you will be focused on action in your coverage area but something on the farthest edge of your peripheral vision will draw your attention. “Gee whiz,” you’ll say to yourself. “That... ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/30 "2020-04-23T13:21:20Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > In baseball, the pitcher has a near absolute advantage in inflicting punishment on the other team. Yes, they will be ejected and the benches warned, but the damage is already done. Fights are more likely when there’s a clear imbalance like that. > > The fact is that baseball fights are about the wimpiest fights known to man, with a few rare but spectacular exceptions. They look wild but if you take a closer look most of the action is pushing and shoving, with the majority of players just holding players back or pairing up for a tango. I don’t believe players get hurt very often in those bench clearing brawls so the pressure to fix it is fairly low. It’s been decades since I read Jim Bouton’s _Ball Four_ but he described a fight where he ran to a friend of his on the other team and they scripted punches while having a friendly conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/31 "2020-04-23T18:34:47Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Ketchup on a hot dog? Now there is something to fight about. Ha freakin ha. I’m waiting for everyone to get tired of that “joke.” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/32 "2020-04-24T03:20:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s the six additional inches after the sixty feet that raise the bar from merely amusing to uproarious. Hehehe, yeah, that made me think of this event: > [@gkster](#): > > Link to an article about the Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan fight story > [The Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan fight story you haven’t heard – NBC Sports Chicago](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-white-sox/robin-ventura-nolan-ryan-fight-story-you-havent-heard) You just got hit by a ball thrown by that arm, and you want to get _closer_? OK, you gotta do what you gotta do. Good luck everybody! Yeah, I never thought charging the mound was really productive, and I’d be the guy waltzing with someone. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167/33 "2020-04-24T23:42:25Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > 25 unwritten rules of baseball… > [Baseball's 25 Biggest Unwritten Rules | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1146901-baseballs-25-biggest-unwritten-rules) > > And some unwritten rules of umpiring… > [The Unwritten Rules of Umpiring - Free For All - Umpire-Empire](https://umpire-empire.com/topic/2124-the-unwritten-rules-of-umpiring/) > > Unwritten rules for sports officials in general… > [https://www.referee.com/16-unwritten-rules-of-officiating/](https://www.referee.com/16-unwritten-rules-of-officiating/) The 3rd article was IMHO the best of those. The first one is a mix of a few “unwritten rules” and a bunch of situational “if you do this your fans will yell at you if it goes bad” stuff. Those aren’t rules. A rule is: 1. Umps and catchers may disagree, but ultimately, they’ve got each other’s back: a. If the catcher takes a bad one and doesn’t immediately snap back, the ump will walk a new ball out to the pitcher, chat for a sec, then check on the catcher. If he’s still a little shaken but doesn’t need trainer attention, clean the plate, call for extra balls, whatever. b. If the ump takes a bad one and doesn’t immediately snap back, time for a mound visit by the catcher. A little chit-chat, pretend you’re clarifying signs. Keep an eye on the ump, he’ll let you know when he’s caught his breath, then play ball. That’s a rule. And catchers ignore it to their pitcher’s peril. The umps will never ignore it (at least I’ve never seen it in any organized game of baseball). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-is-it-considered-wrong-to-not-join-your-teammates-in-clearing-the-benches-in-a-brawl/852167.md?page=1)