David Wells did the unthinkable in 1997, challenging owner George Steinbrenner to a fight in the Yankees clubhouse after a poor start against the Montreal Expos, he revealed on “Pardon My Take.”
Wells explained he was in the midst of a poor stretch and had allowed six runs (four earned) in eight innings of a 7-2 loss to the Expos on Aug. 30, 1997 with Pedro Martinez on the mound opposite him.
Steinbrenner — according to Wells — was waiting for him at his locker after the game and told the lefty, “You ain’t the pitcher I signed” before the encounter slowly escalated.
Wells was upset because he felt a right field home run was improperly ruled by the umpire, saying that a fan leaned over the fence, snatching the ball away from outfielder Paul O’Neill.
“Excuse me?” Wells responded. “Well, if you don’t like me, why don’t you go f–king trade me.”
Steinbrenner cheekily replied, “I tried; nobody wants you,” a comment that annoyed Wells.
“This is my dream to play for you, but not if you’re going to be a dickhead, then f–k off; I don’t want to be no part of it,” Wells said.
“As a matter of fact, I’m going to go get ice on my shoulder, my back, and my knee. When I come back, if you’re here, I’m going to beat the s–t out of you.”
The late Steinbrenner, who was 67 years old at the time, stood his ground and fired back, “I’m not afraid of you.”
When Wells returned to the clubhouse, Steinbrenner was greeted with, “You still here, mother f–ker?! then quickly ripped off every ice pack and darted toward Steinbrenner before chasing the owner out.
After the incident, Wells cooled down and felt terrible about it. He claimed that he was in the heat of the moment, which caused him to act like a menace.
Two days later, at their next game, the two sorted things out.
But even that was its own story.
Wells picked up a random ringing phone in the clubhouse and greeted the person on the other line with, “Yankee Stadium, second base, can I help you?”
Upon the caller speaking, Wells connected the dots — it was Steinbrenner.
Wells pretended that he didn’t know who was on the other line, which stirred up Steinbrenner once again.
He screamed into the phone, “This is George Steinbrenner, God damnit!”
After getting under his skin, Wells sincerely apologized over the phone and again in person.
It ended with Steinbrenner hugging Wells and kissing him on the cheek, telling him: “You’re my guy.”