Mark McGwire, Matt Williams Star in Bench-Clearing Brawl (Video)

June 11, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers batting coach Mark McGwire (12) holds back Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams (9) as Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly (8) speaks with Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson (23) in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire and Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams must have had a flashback to their playing days during the bench-clearing brawl that erupted between their two clubs on Tuesday night.

McGwire was a feared slugger on the Oakland A’s during the late 80s and early 90s, and Williams was racking up All-Star-caliber numbers himself during that time period across the Bay in San Francisco.

So, it’s no coincidence that these two old rivals nearly had at it during the brawl, which broke out in the seventh inning when the Diamondbacks’ Ian Kennedy hit Zack Greinke, leading to this:

McGwire was clearly the aggressor, as he was fuming during the entire melee.

Williams tried to play the role of peacemaker, first grabbing on to Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly, then trying to calm down McGwire, who was arguing vehemently with Kirk Gibson, the Diamondbacks’ skipper.

As you can see in the below picture provided by Casey Pratt of CSN Bay Area, things got a bit heated between the two ex-Bay Area rivals, as they each had a strong hold of each other’s jerseys.

Photo: Casey Pratt / CSN Bay Area (via Twitter)

Eventually, cooler heads would prevail and both teams would head back to their respective dugouts, but not until both McGwire and Williams were ejected from the game.

Personally, I would have loved to see them go at it.

McGwire vs. Williams, Battle of the Bay.

Just like the old days.