Today is a simply BRAWLTASTIC day...

...in postseason baseball history. Let's go to the video tape:

October 8, 1972 – Bert Campaneris leads off the 7th at the Oakland Coliseum in Game 2 of the A’s ALCS against the Tigers. The A’s are up a game in the series, and winning the second game 5-0. Tigers reliever Lerrin LeGrow beans Campy on the ankle, and without missing a beat, Campy hurls his bat at LeGrow (I have to admit I’ve always wondered why people don’t do this more often). All hell predictably breaks loose. True to form, Billy Martin, the Tigers’ manager at the time, is the first to reach Campy with a murderous sprint. Both benches clear and mayhem ensues for a while, although the brawl is not a Grade A brawltastic affair. Any brawl is at least 50% brawltastic though when it starts with a bat-throwing.

Exactly one year later to the day, some full-on 100 proof brawliciousness is achieved in Game 3 of the NLCS between the Mets and the Reds. It was the top of the fifth inning and New York was routing Cincy 9-2 at Shea – Le Grande Orange had already stroked two dingers for the Mets. Ole Born-to-Brawl himself, Pete Rose, was on first when Joe Morgan hit a grounder up the middle. Met shortstop made the force at second and crossed the bag for the turn to first and Rose took him out hard. Harrelson landed on top of Rose, gave him a little extra, Rose took exception, and the next thing you know things got all UFC. Benches cleared, lots of action, the high point being when Reds’ reliever Pedro Borbon found a Mets cap on the ground and proceeded to rip it apart with his teeth (a decision for which he is currently awaiting induction into the No Mas Hall of Fame). Then when Rose went out to left in the bottom of the inning, the fans at Shea pelted him debris and beer bottles and Sparky Anderson had to take the Big Red Machine off the field. Only a major show of force from New York's finest got the game back on, and Rose was lucky to get out of there with his life (although, knowing Rose, he was ready to fight every one of those sons of bitches and then buy 'em a beer afterward). Really a top-notch brawl on the whole, certainly in the top five all-time.