The culprit, according to the wire photo caption, was Dodger pitcher Don Drysdale, who sent a fastball a bit too close to Johnny Logan’s head. Logan, who was ready to fight at the drop of a syllable, far left in the photo, has his arm cocked ready to smack Walter Alston, number 24 and manager of the Brooklyn Club, in the side of the head. Meanwhile, Drysdale is being held, at the right of the photo, by an unknown Milwaukee Braves coach, wearing number 8. In the upper portion of the mele Pee Wee Reese guides a tumbling Eddie Mathews on top of his teammate already on the ground. This 1957 scene at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn was shocking; the outrage was palpable in the National League’s front office. The fines were stiff: Johnny Logan $100. Don Drysdale $40.
What triggered this wild baseball scene?
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From Retrosheet play-by-play of Milwaukke at Brooklyn, 6-13-57:
BRAVES 2ND: Thomson doubled to left; O’Connell was called out on
strikes; Sawatski doubled to center [Thomson scored]; Trowbridge
struck out; Bruton homered [Sawatski scored]; Logan was hit by a
pitch; Logan charges Drysdale, both ejected; LEHMAN
REPLACED DRYSDALE (PITCHING); MANTILLA RAN FOR LOGAN; Mathews
flied out to left; 3 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Braves 4, Dodgers 0.
According to the article in LIFE June 24, 1957, the Milwaukee coach is Connie Ryan and he his holding back Gil Hodges coming over from 1st base.