I love baseball, but I’ll be the first to admit that, when you think about it, it’s a pretty weird game. For starters, there’s no clock, so the game moves about as fast as the pitcher and manager want it to. Which can be pretty slow. And, unlike most pro sports, but very much like golf, you don’t necessarily have to be in good physical shape to play baseball. In fact, about half of baseball players are ingesting harmful carcinogens (i.e., chewing tobacco) while they play. Plus, have you ever noticed that baseball uniforms include belts? What’s up with that?
But there’s an upside to baseball’s quirks: they sometimes lead to some pretty funny moments. And that’s what we celebrate today. I mean, what other sport can offer fans the spectacle of two players jousting like medieval knights during a rain delay? (Answer: none.) So sit back and check out these funny GIFs of weird crap that could only happen in baseball. You won’t regret it.
I like how there's not one bit of hesitation by the Royals grounds crew when one of their own goes flying over the giant tube and into harms way. No one's like, "Whoa guys! Hold on! Jimmy's gonna get crushed!" They just keep on running. If the dude breaks a few ribs, he breaks a few ribs. Motherf---in field gotta get covered.
22. Attack of the Man-Eating Tarp
His mom says he's not fat, he's husky. But you be the judge. I mean, that looks like it really hurt.
21. Tubby takes a spill
Reason #39 why you shouldn't run onto the field at Fenway: apparently they hire football linebackers to work ball boys.
20. Baseball fan, football tackle
I like how Adrian Beltre's points to this poor dude to see if he's okay. Very thoughtful. (Mike Napoli couldn't give a crap.)
19. Camera guy fail
Whoa, what's the hurry, Sergio?
18. Sergio Romo takes a spill
Prince mad! Prince smash! Grraaawwwhh—aaaaw, but Prince not hurt bat! Prince love bat! So pretty!
17. Pissed Prince
This is the weird crap that happens when you invite Cirque du Soleil to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
16. Weirdest first pitch ever?
Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison was no match for this belligerent praying mantis.
15. When praying mantises attack
This might be the weirdest expression of anger I've ever seen from a baseball player. Usually they attack gatorade jugs with bats, or punch stuff. Becoming a human geyser? That's a first.
14. Old Faithful
Seeing that this space cadet was about to interfere with a play at the plate, the ump nonchalantly grabs him by the belt and tosses him to the backstop like a rag doll. Classy move, chief.
13. Look out!
I have no idea what's going on here. I mean, judging from the way Swisher's pockets are hanging, this little clip is being run in reverse (cause gravity doesn't work that way). But that still doesn't really explain it. It's got to be one of the weirdest plays at the plate in the history of baseball.
12. WTF?
Meet Izzy Alcántara. Apparently Izzy doesn't like it when pitchers try to brush him back, nor does he try very hard to suppress his emotions. (That happened back in 2001, when he was playing for the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox.)
11. Anger issues
Ladies and gentleman, your 2011 National League MVP. Awesome. (I guess steroids don't do much for motor skills. Oh wait, I forgot. He was "cleared" of those charges.)
10. Ryan Braun's epic baserunning fail
Take it down a notch, Michael Flatley.
9. Rain Delay Dancer
So, yeah, rain delays are really boring.
8. Rain delay human bowling
Yeah, this is what every GM or Athletic Director likes to see—their ballplayers jousting during a rain delay.
Good choice, fellas. No harm could possibly come from this.
7. Rain delay jousting
Bearded Giants closer Brian Wilson was ecstatic to have made the post season. Obviously.
6. Brian Wilson takes it in the face
When this happens at the company picnic softball game, you never live it down. Ever.
5. Oh my
Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, aka Kung Fu Panda, isn't the fittest player in MLB baseball. So when he takes a nasty spill on a routine baserunning play, this kind of GIF is bound to pop up.
4. Panda eat cake?
In 2009, Phil Wellman, coach of the Atlanta Braves' Double-A affiliate, turned in what has to be the greatest performance ever given by an angry baseball manager. And yes, it really did entail Wellman crawling on the ground like a commando, pulling an imaginary pin out of an imaginary grenade (a rosin bag), and throwing it at the feet of the home plate ump.
This helpful GIF immortalizes the moment and adds the special effects that, up until now, we had visualize with our minds. Thanks Phil, and thank you internet people who enhanced this GIF.
3. Best. Argument. Ever.
So apparently they do things a little differently in Korean baseball.
2. The Korean Leg Dance
I hear A-Rod likes to polish his bat several times a day. Interesting technique, wouldn't you say?
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