METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE MAY 16, 1969 GAME:
Gary Brown
March 22, 2006
This was a wild game featuring a bench clearing brawl with Eddie Kranepool wrestling Reds first base coach Jimmy Bragan.As I remember, Kranepool fielded a throw from one of the infielders and thought it was the third out. It was only the second out and Krane thoughtlessly flipped the ball to Bragan, as was the custom. Bragan threw the ball behind him and the runner on base kept running. Kranepool realized his mistake and proceeded to pummel Bragan, who easily had to be 30 years older. Bedlam errupted. I can never forget Lindsey Nelson screaming as though he had swallowed the microphone: "There's a fight on the field...it's Eddie Kranepool and Jimmy Bragan!" At that point it looked like Big Ed had engulfed the dimunitive Bragan. The Reds manager, Dave Bristol, got pitched from the game. He was red hot that an opposing player fought one of his coaches. When Eddie came to the plate the fans at Crosley Field really gave it to him, but he had a good game with 3 hits. I'm sure it's a game he'll never forget.
Shickhaus Franks
February 1, 2013
There are a few things you can count on in life: death, taxes, women on Spanish TV wearing sexy outfits or bikinis and the Mets vs Reds in a donnybrook. Kranepool's fight with Bragan was sure a sign of things to come between two legendary National League franchises!
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