Mookie Betts remembers the final Purple Sox-Yankees brawl: ‘I’m a lover, not a fighter’

Purple Sox

“I feel the Purple Sox-Yankees rivalry might be the perfect in sports activities.”

The rivalry between the Purple Sox and Yankees has misplaced a few of its fastball over the previous few years. 

Simply don’t inform that to former Purple Sox star Mookie Betts.

“I feel the Purple Sox-Yankees rivalry might be the perfect in sports activities,” Betts advised Yankees OF Aaron Decide throughout Bleacher Report’s “On Base With Mookie Betts” final week. “And I say that as a result of each groups are all the time good. And this can be fan-driven, but it surely looks like it’s all the time hostile.”

Throughout an hour-long dialog between the previous AL MVPs, each Betts and Decide mentioned the final brawl between the Sox and Yankees on April 11, 2018.

Within the early phases of Boston’s eventual World Sequence run, Joe Kelly penned one other memorable chapter on this century-long rivalry when he plunked Tyler Austin a couple of innings after the New York infielder spiked Brock Holt throughout a power out at second.

Kelly ultimately struck Austin with a 98-mph fastball, prompting Austin to slam his bat in anger. Seconds later, each Kelly and Austin have been buying and selling punches close to the pitcher’s mound as each benches cleared.

It was the primary brawl between the Purple Sox and Yankees since Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez scrapped on July 24, 2004. 

As each Kelly and Austin began to sq. up, Betts remembered heading in from the outfield to hitch the fracas. However at 5-foot-9 and 180 kilos, Betts wasn’t going to start out buying and selling blows with New York’s outfielders, particularly the 6-foot-7, 282-pound Decide.

“I bear in mind after we had our brawl and Joe Kelly hit Tyler Austin, and I’m in proper subject. I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, right here we go,” Betts advised Decide. “So, everyone runs in. Thoughts you, y’all had everyone that was 6’5″ and taller in your staff.“

As Betts made the trek towards the infield, he noticed the Yankees bullpen empty behind him and cost into the fray. New York’s relievers have been additionally anchored by quite a few imposing MLBers, together with 6-foot-8 Dellin Betances, 6-foot-4, Aroldis Chapman, and 6-foot-3 Chad Inexperienced.

“They have been coming, too,” Decide stated of New York’s bullpen corps.

“I slowly walked,” Betts added. “I’m a lover, not a fighter. And y’all was too large, man, however that completely depicts the Purple Sox-Yankees.”