On July 23rd, 1991, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rob Dibble, who was just back from a three-game suspension, was ejected for throwing at, and hitting, Chicago Cubs baserunner Doug Dascenzo in an 8-5 Reds loss.

The model professional ballplayer is even-tempered and steady. In other words, kind of boring. Think Mike Trout, Derek Jeter, and Aaron Judge. Great players whose play can be electric but are really just bland as hell.

I have always been partial to the fiery kind of player. It is why some of my favorite Twins players over the years have been guys like A.J. Prierzynski, Dan Gladden, and Juan Berenguer. I like players that are emotional and show it. If they rub the fans, or players of the other teams wrong, so much the better. Baseball is supposed to be entertaining and fun.

Closer Rob Dibble was one of my favorite players back in the day. He was an emotional closer that had trouble controlling his temper at times. (As a redhead who had a fiery temper of my own when I was young, I always appreciate seeing people with tempers that are still successful at what they’re doing.)

On this day in 1991, however, Dibble went a bit too far when he took out his frustration on a bunting Doug Dascenzo.

But here I am, 33 years later, enjoying watching again this baseball moment when two of the things I love most about game came together explosively: a player who can bunt and an emotional player unable to keep his “professional” composure.