Pitchers intimidating hitters and occasionally throwing at them has long been a part of the game. But such incidents were infrequent and largely confined to tactics such as backing the hitter off the plate. Of course tempers flare in sports, and that kind of thing occasionally manifests itself on the field of play. But whenever Ventura took the mound, it was expected that he would throw at somebody. He was likened to an on-field arsonist. Even his own team was disgusted with his routinely dangerous antics.
Ummmmm. No. I actually follow the Royals, and it was never expected he would throw at somebody. And his teammates were never disgusted at him. It’s baseball, and it is part of the game. It’s nothing more than that. It’s been going on since the beginning. Much ado about nothing.
Bob Gibson comes to mind.
He actually once gave up a homer to a guy (Jay Johnstone) in his final season, and hit him in retaliation in an old-timer’s game 10 years later.