Baseball's unwritten rules

Intentionally throwing at hitters will be reciprocated by the other team Look out! If any player violates an unwritten rule, he, or his team’s top slugger, should expect a beanball later in the game, series or even season. The retaliation game continues until the umpire starts tossing people. One famous instance of this in Beantown came in Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS against the Yankees. It was a matchup of aces — Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens — and tensions were high in the fiercest of rivalries in the most crucial circumstances. First, Martinez plunked Karim Garcia in the back. In the following inning, Manny Ramirez felt a high Clemens fastball (left) was a bit too close to his head for it to be unintentional. Benches cleared and a 72-year-old man was thrown to the ground.
Jim Rogash/Associated Prses

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By Lenny Neslin, Boston.com Staff

Intentionally throwing at hitters will be reciprocated by the other team

Look out! If any player violates an unwritten rule, he, or his team’s top slugger, should expect a beanball later in the game, series or even season. The retaliation game continues until the umpire starts tossing people. One famous instance of this in Beantown came in Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS against the Yankees. It was a matchup of aces — Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens — and tensions were high in the fiercest of rivalries in the most crucial circumstances. First, Martinez plunked Karim Garcia in the back. In the following inning, Manny Ramirez felt a high Clemens fastball (left) was a bit too close to his head for it to be unintentional. Benches cleared and a 72-year-old man was thrown to the ground.