If Madlock was attempting to turn a double play and someone barreled him over, outside of the baseline like he did Fernandez, Madlock would be ready to fight the guy. Madlock should've been suspended for at least the length of time Fernandez was out with his injury.
That dirty play by Madlock and Ernie Whitt’s injured ribs were the death of the Blue Jays that September. They were a better team than both the Tigers and the Twins.
This play cost the the Blue Jays there first World Series Win. I have no doubt that with Fernandez in the line-up over Manny Lee the win a few at Tiger stadium and they beat the Twins in the ALCS. Too bad the wildcard wasn't around in the 1980s.
By today's standards it's a dirty play because Bill Madlock didn't even go for the bag, he went straight for Tony Fernandez's legs to take him out and break up the double play. Back then players were more aggressive in doing that and it was accepted.
Bill Madlock was one of my favorite Chicago Cubs. He was traded because the cheap owner did not want to pay him a salary that he was worthy of . I remember Bill Madlock being hit with a pitch by Jim Barr of the San Francisco Giants. Bill Madlock ran out to the mound with his bat in order to knock Jim Barr out. He was a mean and a very fiery player. He meant to do harm to Tony Fernandez. I don't think that he meant to break the guys arm, but he did mean to take him out.
I remember that '87 AL East pennant race between the Jays and Tigers. They had 7 head to head games over the final 10 and all 7 games were decided by a single run. The season finale was a winner-take-all 1-0 shutout win by the Tigers at Tiger Stadium on a Chet Lemon solo homer. IMHO I thought the Jays were the more talented team until they lost their entire middle of their defense and Fernandez in particular. They lost their final 6 games of the season after that with a gutted lineup.
I believe Doyle Alexander got the W for the Tigers. I was watching a meaningless game in Arlington Stadium (as they all were) that day when they posted video of the final out a few moments after it ended.
Madlock was an exceptional player, especially in his day's as a Pirate. However, this was total Bush League ball. He was about 5 feet out of the base path when he did that. He wouldn't get away with that in today's game.
In order for a slide to be "clean," there has to be a chance that you're going to be safe if you complete the slide. Madlock was never going to be safe with that slide: he straight up went for the kneecap.
Text book example of why this insane type of "slide"? is no longer allowed. It was a body slam, nothing at all resembling a slide, including actually sliding or being able to touch the base and no, this was not a standard way of doing things at that the time, and yes, I have read the comments from everyone who say Bill is a nice guy, but he's not being a nice guy in this instance at all, he's being reckless, and blaming the injury on anything other than his attempt to tackle Fernandez is quite simply convenient for him to suggest, but not truthful.
People critize the Cubs trade of Madllock . He was a great hitter , but he was also the Joey Belle of the 1970s. Always pissed off about something. Addition by subtraction..
@CollandChay I agree with you. In fact, if he knew the slide would cause damage to Fernandez, he wouldn't have done it. In baseball, the last thing you expect is anyone to get hurt. It's not football.
This guy must have taken lessons from Jack Tatum. Glad they have rules now for those too dumb to know when they are causing harm outside normal standards of play. This isn't football.
