ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Robin Ventura and Nolan Ryan have spoken for the first time since their infamous brawl 19 seasons ago.
Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher who is the Texas Rangers president, went to the visitors’ clubhouse before Friday’s opener to wish good luck to Ventura before his managerial debut for the Chicago White Sox.
It was their first meeting since a hot August night at old Arlington Stadium in 1993 when Ventura, then a 26-year-old third baseman for the White Sox, charged the mound. Ryan, 20 years older and in the last year of his playing career, got Ventura in a headlock and landed several blows.
In the dugout about an hour before Friday’s game, Ryan said he hoped to see Ventura.
