5 of the Biggest Brawls in Sports History

Cassie Bradshaw

May 25- 7 min read

5 of the Biggest Brawls in Sports History

Whether you’re watching hockey, football, baseball, or basketball, fights are always gonna be a part of the game. Although sometimes, we see our favorite players get a bit riled up, and an absolute brawl starts. Here are 5 of the biggest brawls in sports history.

1. Detroit Pistons & Indiana Pacers – Malice at the Palace

I’m sure many of us remember the Malice at the Palace back in 2004. With 45 seconds left in the game, the Pacers were leading 97-82 when Ron Artest from the Pacers fouled Ben Wallace of the Pistons. When Wallace got back up and gave Artest a shove, players and coaches from both teams flooded the court. Just as things started to settle down, a fan threw a beer cup at Artest as he was lying on the score table trying to calm down. Already annoyed by his fight with Wallace, Artest ran into the stands and began to attack the fan. To make things even worse, as Artest was leaving to court, fans began to throw garbage at him.

2. Boston Bruins & New York Rangers 1979

Back in 1979, the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers were playing a tight game filled with tons of penalties and fights. It was during the game when the Rangers player Ulf Nilsson punched Boston’s Al Secord in the face, so once the game was over, Secord went and punched Nilsson right back. AN eye for an eye he explained it. This punched resulted in the other players from both teams joining in. During the fight, a New York Rangers fan reached over the glass and hit player Stan Jonathan in the head and took his stick from his hands. Terry O’Reilly, a fellow Boston player came to his teammates defense and jumped into the stands to take on this fan.

3. New York Yankees & Boston Red Sox – Tyler Austin & Joe Kelly

Benches clear, punches thrown in Yankees-Red Sox after Tyler Austin is hit by a pitch from Joe Kelly. pic.twitter.com/wvqoak8QMV

— MLB (@MLB) April 12, 2018

In 2018 at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees were battling it out for a win. During the seventh inning, Yankees player Tyler Austin stepped up to the plate with New York Yankees Joe Kelly pitching. As Kelly pitches the ball, we see it slam right into the side of Austin’s ribcage. Austin, stunned and probably in pain by what just happened, threw his helmet and bat to the ground and stomped over to Kelly where the fight began.

4. Battle of Alberta – Mike Smith & Cam Talbot 2020

All hell breaks loose in the Battle of Alberta, including a goalie fight between Mike Smith and Cam Talbot pic.twitter.com/7YRcWnFbEx

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 2, 2020

The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are not strangers, in fact this series of game definitely brought them closer together, physically anyways. Prior to this specific game, fights had broken out between these two teams. Zack Kassain and Matthew Tkachuck went a few rounds with each other, but in this specific game we see a full team fight including a head to head with the two goalies, Mike Smith and Cam Talbot.

5. Cleveland Browns & Pittsburgh Steelers 2019

Back in 2019, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers were battling it out when one tackle started a fight. Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns tackled quarterback Mason Rudolph. However this tackle didn’t end with the whistle because Garrett proceeded to keep attacking Rudolph. Garrett ripped of Rudolph’s helmet and used it to hit Rudolph’s now unprotected head. Garrett as well as many other players were ejected from the game. Both teams faced major fines and players Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, and Maurkice Pouncey were suspended.