Izzy’s epic meltdown

Izzy Alcantara during his time with the Boston Red Sox

Corner infielder Izzy Alcantara, then with Class AAA Pawtucket, makes national headlines for all the wrong reasons 25 years ago today as he reacts to an inside pitch from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Blas Cedeno by drop-kicking catcher Jeremy Salazer and then charging the mound.‍

The International League suspends Alcantara for seven games before the Boston Red Sox eventually promote him to the majors on Sept. 1 for the pop in his bat rather than, well, the stupidity of his drop kick.

Alcantara goes on to play parts of three seasons in the majors with Boston and Milwaukee, batting .270 with six home runs in 115 career at-bats.

As for Salazar, he spends two more seasons as a backup catcher for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which at the time is the Philadelphia Phillies’ Class AAA affiliate.

Unlike Alcantara, Salzar never reaches the majors and retires after the 2003 season at the age of 27.

“I always joke that I’m the most famous catcher ever,” Salazar later says, “because everybody remembers that particular incident.”

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