Barrett Punched A.J. 10 Years Ago Today

CHICAGO, IL - Baseball fans in Chicago have described it as the “punch heard 'round the city.”

Ten years ago today, on May 20, 2006, the largest on-field brawl ever between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox began with an epic punch from one catcher to the other.

In 2006, the White Sox were coming off a World Series championship the year before and had the best record in baseball again in mid-May. The Cubs were in the midst of one of their worst seasons, with the only pride to play for being a possible upset win over their hated rivals from the South Side.

During the May 20 game, White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski rounded third base to score an emphatic run, running over Cubs catcher Michael Barrett in the process and slapping his hand on home plate. Barrett responded with the famous punch, and a bench-clearing brawl followed.

The moment was ranked No. 7 on a recent Patch list highlighting the 25 best White Sox moments ever at U.S. Cellular Field.

“Tensions were never higher between the White Sox and their crosstown rivals than in 2006, when the defending champions hosted the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field, and the result could not have been sweeter for the good guys. A.J. rounds third base heading home and beats a Cubs throw from the outfield, plowing over Cubs catcher Michael Barrett in the process. A.J. smacks home plate and is punched square in the face by the frustrated Barrett. The benches clear, Barrett is ejected, and tempers are flaring in the stands. When the game returns, Podsednik promptly gets on base loading them, and on the next pitch Tadahito Iguchi sends out a massive grand slam. There was no better moment for a White Sox fan in their rivalry with the Cubs. We had the ring, the swagger and capped off all the trash talk with a monster slam. The White Sox won that game, 7-0.”