A retrospective on Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS
I was sitting in my apartment with friends 20 years ago today, October 11, 2003. The Red Sox and Yankees were meeting in Game 3 with the series tied 1-1. The pitching matchup featured Roger Clemens vs Pedro Martinez at Fenway Park. Clemens was my favorite as a young child. I had his poster in my bedroom and was devastated when he moved on to the twilight of his career. Pedro was the Red Sox’ savior. It was the best team the Red Sox have put together, and standing in their way was New York.
![Garcia hit by pitch](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-2582365.jpg)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Karim Garcia #28 of the New York Yankees reacts to being hit by a pitch by Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox during Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Yankees were crushing Martinez early on. To send a message, he threw behind Karim Garcia, which sparked the New York bench to chirp at Martinez. Joe Torre coming out of the dugout to argue when earlier that season, Martinez hit both Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter and took it personally. Garcia was fuming and was awarded first base even thought the ball actually hit his bat. The bases were loaded with no outs. Soriano grounded into a double play when Garcia went at the legs of second baseman Todd Walker. Both got into it, and some in the Yankees dugout came on the field.
![Garcia and Walker exchange words](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-2582468.jpg)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Karim Garcia #28 of the New York Yankees has words with Todd Walker #12 of the Boston Red Sox after sliding into second base during Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series on October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusettes. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Jorge Posada and Martinez started screaming at each other. Pedro pointed to his own head, Clemens was restrained while shouting at Martinez. The Yankees had a 4-2 lead and everyone knew Clemens would respond. Again, this was a playoff game and no one wants to get ejected. Tensions were high.
![Posada shouts at Martinez](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-2582518.jpg)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Jorge Posada #20 of the New York Yankees shouts at Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox after he hit a batter during Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series on October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusettes. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
![Walker and Garcia](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-2584619.jpg)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Todd Walker #12 of the Boston Red Sox tries to keep Karim Garcia #28 of the New York Yankees at a distance after Garcia slid hard into Walker at second base as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-3 during Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series on October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusettes. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Manny Ramirez led off the bottom of the 4th inning when Clemens threw one inside and high. It wasn’t really that close, but it set off Manny who started screaming and pointed the bat at Clemens. Both benches cleared, both Ramirez and Clemens were being held back. Pedro Martinez was the last one out of the dugout. Don Zimmer, the 72-year-old bench coach of the Yankees, charged Martinez, who tossed him to the ground. Zimmer was dazed and had a cut on his nose.
![Ramirez has words for Clemens](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-2585345.jpg)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Manny Ramirez #24 of the Boston Red Sox has words for Roger Clemens of the New York Yankees after a high pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning as the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-3 during Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series on October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusettes. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Officer Bill Carroll was seen helping Zimmer off the ground. At the time, we didn’t realize that was our friend Chris & Dan’s father. We found out later in the day and got the Boston Herald the next day. That photo was on the fridge in my apartment for years.
![Zimmer walks off field](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-2582310.jpg)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Bench coach Don Zimmer (C) of the New York Yankees is helped back to the dugout by team trainers and pitcher Roger Clemens #22 (L) after Zimmer was thrown to the ground by Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox after he had charged Martinez during the fourth inning of Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series on October 11, 2003 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusettes. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
The Red Sox trailed 4-3 going into the 9th, with Mariano Rivera heading to the mound. A fight broke out in the Yankees’ bullpen between reliever Jeff Nelson and a member of the grounds crew. Todd Walker was trying to break up the fight and lacerated his hand. The Yankees went on to win the game 4-3 and take a 2-1 series lead.
After the game, we learned Don Zimmer was taken away in an ambulance. Yankees president Randy Levine got into a shouting match with Sandy Alderson, a high ranked official in baseball, regarding security issues. Both teams displayed bad behavior, but the Yankees were angry with Pedro Martinez. The victory was pivotal in the Yankees series 4-3 series win.
Listen to the full podcast with Officer Bill Carroll on his experience from October 11, 2003.