It was evening, May 19, 1998. The Orioles were visiting Yankee Stadium. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Bernie Williams slammed a three-run home run off O's reliever Armando Benitez as part of a six-run frame for the Yanks, who came from behind to take the lead. Benitez was frustrated. He threw a pitch squarely in the back of Tino Martinez -- the second time Martinez was hit that night -- and was ejected. For both sides, it was too much.

And so, 17 years ago, the Yankees and Orioles cleared the benches.

What followed was a melee that spilled out of and back into the dugouts and left the umpires standing on the foul line, unable to contain the scrum.

At the center of it: An irate Martinez who had to be physically restrained:

And Benitez, who was battling back Yankees from all angles:

After second and third (and seemingly fourth, and fifth) winds, the fight eventually died down, the sides separated and the game was able to finish, ending in a 9-5 Yankees win.

The very next day, Benitez was suspended for eight games, and Yankees Darryl Strawberry and Grame Lloyd were suspended for three. Jeff Nelson also got two games, as well as Orioles pitcher Alan Mills.