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Late into the 2001 season, Mike Sweeney and the Kansas City Royals matched up against Jeff Weaver and the Detroit Tigers. However, things would get dicey between these two AL Central clubs.
On two occasions, Sweeney wanted the umpire to check Weaver's rosin bag. As the umpire turned his back to head chat with Weaver, Sweeney came unglued and changed the mound.
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Sweeney unleashed his helmet at Weaver, and both teams came charging the field. Weaver received a fine for his actions in the brawl, and he and his manager, Phil Gardner were unhappy about it, via UPI.
"What are they fining Weaver for, for being in the way of the helmet? For not running into center field when he didn't know someone was going? And I certainly didn't expect my coaches to get fined and suspended," Gardner said.
Detroit catcher Robert Fick received an eight-game suspension for his part in the brawl. With Sweeney only receiving 10, Weaver didn't agree with that.
"Sweeney is the one that charged the mound and Fick's job is to protect his pitcher, and that is what he was doing. I just don't understand it" Jeff Weaver said.
Sweeney would end up missing 15 games in total - 10 for the suspension and five due to a bruised hand.
Jeff Weaver and Mike Sweeney's brawl was one of many during the 2000s
Jeff Weaver and Mike Sweeney were not the only pair to start a memorable benches-clearing brawl during the 2000s. There were multiple that we can look back on that have stood the test of time.
During the World Series between the New York Yankees and New York Mets, Mike Piazza and Roger Clemens got into it. Piazza's bat snapped and a piece of it went flying at Clemens. Clemens then proceeded to pick up the piece and fire it back toward Piazza.
Fans of Chicago baseball will never forget when the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs squared off on May 20, 2006. White Sox slugger A.J. Pierzynski barreled into Michael Barrett at the plate and slapped the plate for the score.
Barrett was not a fan of the way Pierzynski scored and landed a clean hook to Pierzyni's jaw. Both teams rushed to the field in what's one of the more famous brawls during the 2000s.
