On August 4, 1993, a wild, colorful, and unexpected moment unfolded in Texas Rangers baseball history. The Chicago White Sox were in town, facing off against the Rangers at Arlington Stadium in what was a fairly typical game—until the third inning, that is.

Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan was on the mound, and White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura was at bat. Ryan threw a fastball that drilled Ventura, who, angered by the hit, charged toward Ryan to retaliate. The 46-year-old Ryan immediately put the 26-year-old Ventura in a headlock and emphatically landed several punches. The brawl cleared both benches, with players rushing onto the field to either break up the fight or join in. Ryan eventually emerged from the pile to thunderous cheers from the audience. It wasn’t long, however, before another brawl erupted in the aftermath.

Photo Credit: Major League Baseball

After several minutes, the dust finally settled, and the game resumed. Needless to say, both the team and the fans were quite fired up after that. The Rangers went on to win the game 5-3.

While most don’t typically condone fisticuffs in baseball, this moment certainly showcased a “Don’t Mess With Texas” attitude. It remains one of the most memorable moments in Texas Rangers baseball history.

Ryan Versus Ventura—Fight Night at Arlington Stadium

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 08-04-25