Norm Charlton, one of the Reds’ “Nasty Boys” relievers from 1990, wasn’t just throwing heat on the mound—he brought it to the basepaths too. The day after Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia blocked the plate and caused Eric Davis to slide awkwardly and injure his ankle, Charlton made it clear he wanted payback. Though a pitcher, Charlton grabbed a bat, took a few cuts, fouled one off, whiffed badly on a curve, then got plunked by another breaking ball. Annoyed and seething, he tossed the bat dramatically and stared down the pitcher, clearly building toward something.
On first base with his jacket and helmet on, Charlton got his shot after Joe Oliver ripped a ball into the corner. Ignoring the third-base coach’s stop sign, he charged home and trucked Scioscia clean off the plate. It wasn’t subtle. Charlton lowered the boom early, crushed Scioscia, and sent the catcher flipping backwards onto his head. Helmet flying, dirt everywhere, and pure chaos. Charlton didn’t score, but he made his statement. The ump made the right call keeping him safe, and Charlton jogged off the field grinning, looking unbothered in his oversized jacket, like a pitcher who just got to be a fullback for one glorious play.