When Murphy tossed the ball to Mahler covering first, Jackson, as he hit the bag, seemed to swerve toward Mahler in order to make contact. There was an exchange of words, both benches emptied, but that was it. Until Reggie came up in the sixth inning---against Mahler's brother Rick.
Mahler's first pitch went behind Jackson. His next pitch hit Reggie in the thigh. Mahler immediately claimed that the pitch slipped, but upon reflection, when he was asked if he would have reacted similarly if a teammate other than his brother had been involved in the incident at first base, the right hander didn't hesitate.
"Of course. I don't think what he did was right. I guess he thought one pitch was pretty close to him and guess he thought that Mickey was trying to throw at him. I guess that stuff just happens."
The problem started when Mickey Mahler got a pitch a little too far inside for Jackson's taste, after which Jackson attempted his bunt. Mickey admitted he pitched Jackson tight but it wasn't intentional. After the game, a bandaged Jackson explained that he bunted because he has been working on his bunting skills.
COMMENTS: In the 1950s, the American League was referred to as the "brother-in law league" because runners sliding into second base on an attempted double play would not slide hard into the fielder covering the base. In the National League, most players slid hard, trying to upend the fielder in order to prevent him from making a strong relay to first. The term "brother-in law" was used in a derogatory sense because Sunday softball players didn't want to hurt their brothers-in law.
In 1978, neither the American League nor the National League was a "brother-in law league." The competition was real and team loyalty still existed. Players slid hard into second base and pitchers threw inside without the fear of batters running to the mound to attack them with their bats.
