In Game 5 of the 1977 American League Championship Series (ALCS) between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees, the intensity of the rivalry was on full display, culminating in a memorable brawl.
The incident took place on October 9, 1977, at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees and Royals were tied 2-2 in the series, and the game was crucial for both teams to advance to the World Series. Tensions were already high due to the competitive nature of the series and the prior history between the two teams.
As Brett slid into third base, he did so aggressively, which was typical for Brett, who was known for his hard-nosed style of play. Graig Nettles, the Yankees' third baseman, attempted to tag Brett out, and in the process, Nettles' foot came up, and he kicked Brett in the face. This kick appeared to be intentional, probably because Brett seemed to shove Nettles as he came into third and this let to immediate tension.
Angered by the kick, Brett responded by punching Nettles in the head. This punch did indeed connect and the confrontation between Brett and Nettles quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl involving players from both teams. Despite the intensity of the brawl, no players were ejected from the game. Think about this. In this day and age there would be ejections, fines, suspensions. It shows how soft our society has become. Back then it was a truly competitive, passionate game. But yeah, after the brawl the umpires managed to separate the players and restore order without resorting to ejections, allowing both teams to continue with their full rosters.
The Yankees went on to win the game 5-3, advancing to the World Series, where they eventually defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers. George Brett and Graig Nettles embodied their respective teams' competitive spirit. Nettles, known for his tough and sometimes abrasive demeanor, often played the role of the antagonist, particularly against the Royals. Brett, on the other hand, was the fiery leader of a Royals team that repeatedly clashed with the Yankees in the ALCS from 1976 to 1978.
In an interview reflecting on the rivalry, George Brett admitted that the intensity of the Yankees-Royals matchups was a significant factor. He noted, "It wasn’t just me and Graig, it was the whole team. We were all out there trying to win, and it got heated. There wasn’t any love lost between the two teams".
Graig Nettles, in his autobiography Balls, described Brett as one of the toughest competitors he ever faced, but he stopped short of expressing personal animosity. Nettles wrote, "We respected each other as players, but when you’re out there, it’s all about winning. The Royals were in our way, and that’s all it took".
This is baseball the way it should be played. And forever it is my opinion that the brawl between Brett and Nettles remains one of the most memorable moments of that ALCS, encapsulating the fierce rivalry between the two teams during the late 1970s.
--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor
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