Step into the surreal world of Major League Baseball. Beyond the home runs and diving catches lies a collection of strange moments that defy explanation. These oddities have punctuated America’s pastime with incidents so bizarre they’ve etched themselves into sports lore forever.
Like an unexpected key change in a familiar song, these 20 unforgettable instances showcase how baseball occasionally veers into the truly absurd.
20. Parachuting Fan
During Game 6 of the 1986 World Series at Shea Stadium, play suddenly halted. James Miller, an experienced parachutist, descended directly onto the field. Security quickly apprehended Miller, who had achieved notoriety as “Fan Man” for similar stunts.
Surprisingly, parachuting into sporting events became something of a trend in the 1980s and 1990s. Miller later disrupted a heavyweight title fight between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield in 1993, highlighting the era’s more relaxed stadium security—much like the lax airport security we see in pre-9/11 movies like “Airplane!”
19. The Kissing Bandit
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Morganna Roberts—known as “The Kissing Bandit”—gained notoriety for rushing baseball fields to plant kisses on famous players. Her list of “victims” included Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, George Brett, and Cal Ripken Jr.
Standing 5’8″ with a 60-inch bust, Morganna was instantly recognizable to fans nationwide. Though she faced numerous arrests, players generally took her antics in good humor. “I don’t mind getting kissed,” Nolan Ryan once remarked, “but I’d rather she struck when I’m pitching well.” By 1990, she had kissed 37 major league players.
18. Fan Tripped by Player
On May 16, 2011, a fan wearing a red bodysuit ran onto the field during a Phillies-Braves game at Turner Field. After evading security for nearly a minute, the intruder received an unexpected tackle from Braves outfielder Matt Diaz.
The crowd erupted in cheers for Diaz’s intervention. When asked why he got involved, Diaz explained, “I saw the opening and thought, why not?” Just like ingredients coming together in a perfect recipe, this moment blended player initiative, fan misbehavior, and instant justice into a memorable baseball moment.
17. Pizza to the Face
An April 2007 game at Fenway Park witnessed an unexpected food fight between Red Sox fans. As Angels outfielder Garrett Anderson hit a foul ball, a Red Sox fan attempted to catch it. Another fan threw a slice of pizza that hit him square in the shoulder and face.
NESN broadcasters Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy couldn’t contain their laughter, with Remy famously exclaiming, “Here comes the pizza!” Security promptly ejected the pizza thrower. The “pizza incident” has become a beloved part of Red Sox broadcasting lore, regularly replayed during rain delays.
16. Cat on the Field
During an August 2017 game between the Cardinals and Royals at Busch Stadium, a gray stray cat sprinted across the outfield. Players and umpires paused as the feline dashed across the grass, eventually making its way to the warning track. A groundskeeper attempted to corral the cat but received several scratches for his efforts.
Moments after play resumed, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina hit a grand slam, leading fans to nickname the cat “Rally Cat.” Like a relationship that starts with chaos but ends in harmony, the unwanted interruption transformed into a cherished piece of Cardinals lore.
15. Randy Johnson Hits a Bird
In a spring training game on March 24, 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson delivered a fastball toward Calvin Murray of the San Francisco Giants. In an astronomically improbable moment, a dove flew directly into the pitch’s path. Johnson’s 100-mph fastball struck the bird in mid-flight, causing an explosion of feathers.
“I didn’t think it was possible,” Johnson later recalled. “It’s something that I don’t think you’ll ever see again.” The freak accident left players, umpires, and fans stunned in disbelief.
14. Matt Holliday’s Moth in Ear
During an August 2011 game, Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday suddenly began gesturing frantically in the eighth inning. A moth had flown directly into his right ear and become lodged there. Trainers attempted to remove the insect without success.
Holliday had to leave the game. Medical staff extracted the moth by shining a light into his ear to draw it out. “It was big,” Holliday later told reporters. “I couldn’t get it out with my finger, so I was in a little bit of panic.” Like an unwanted guest who refuses to leave a dinner party, the moth created one of baseball’s most unusual injury delays.
13. Killer Bees Delay Game
On May 26, 2013, a spring training game between the Angels and Orioles came to an unexpected halt when a swarm of bees descended on Angel Stadium. The bees formed a massive cluster behind home plate, causing players and nearby fans to retreat to safety.
The game was delayed for 23 minutes while a beekeeper removed the swarm. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said umpire crew chief Dana DeMuth. “They were big, and they were everywhere.” Similar incidents have occurred in San Diego, Cincinnati, and Kansas City, highlighting nature’s occasional intrusion into America’s pastime.
12. Pedro Martinez vs. Don Zimmer Brawl
During Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox, tensions reached a boiling point. Pedro Martinez’s pitch sailed behind Karim Garcia’s head. Benches cleared quickly, and 72-year-old Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer suddenly charged toward Martinez.
Martinez sidestepped and pushed Zimmer to the ground. The incident overshadowed the game itself. Martinez later expressed deep regret, stating, “I wish it never happened. I have a lot of respect for older people.” Like a sour note in an otherwise beautiful symphony, this regrettable action remains a somber mark in Martinez’s otherwise stellar career.
11. Tommy Lasorda vs. The Phillie Phanatic
In a memorable 1988 incident, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda lost his cool with the Phillie Phanatic at Veterans Stadium. The mascot had been driving around the field on his ATV, dragging a life-sized doll dressed in Dodgers gear with Lasorda’s number 2 on the back.
An irate Lasorda charged out of the dugout, snatched the doll away from the Phanatic, and began beating the mascot with it. Years later, Lasorda admitted, “I did that to break the tension. We weren’t playing well, and I wanted to loosen things up.”
10. Manager Steals First Base
On August 2, 2019, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn made Independent League baseball history. Following a controversial call, an animated Cliburn stormed onto the field to protest. In an unprecedented display of frustration, he physically removed first base from its moorings and attempted to walk off with it.
As he exited, Cliburn tossed his cap toward second base in exaggerated protest. His theatrical base theft perfectly blended defiance and comedy, earning him both an ejection and a place in baseball’s catalog of memorable managerial meltdowns. It was like watching your favorite comedy actor break character in the middle of a dramatic scene—unexpected but oddly satisfying.
9. Dusty Baker’s Son on the Field
During Game 5 of the 2002 World Series, a heart-stopping moment occurred when Dusty Baker’s 3-year-old son, Darren, ran onto the field to retrieve Kenny Lofton’s bat. As J.T. Snow scored, he noticed little Darren in harm’s way with David Bell charging toward home plate.
Snow quickly scooped up the young bat boy while crossing home plate, potentially saving him from a dangerous collision. Following this incident, MLB established the “Darren Baker Rule,” increasing the minimum age of bat boys to 14 years. The moment unfolded like the climactic rescue scene in an action movie, with Snow playing the hero just in the nick of time.
8. Multiple Foul Balls into Dugout
During a 2016 game against the Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Angels’ dugout became a danger zone. Four consecutive foul balls rocketed directly into their bench. Each baseball traveled at speeds exceeding 100 mph, sending players scrambling for cover.
Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker narrowly avoided serious injury as his teammates dived for protection. This unusual barrage highlighted the inherent risks players face even when not actively on the field. The dugout transformed from a safe haven into a battlefield in seconds.
7. Yadier Molina’s Sticky Chest Protector
On April 6, 2017, in a Cardinals-Cubs game, a bizarre physics-defying moment occurred. Cubs pitcher Brett Cecil threw a breaking ball that bounced in the dirt in front of Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. When Molina stood up to find the ball, everyone was confused—it was stuck to his chest protector.
The Cubs’ Matt Szczur reached first base on the dropped third strike. This strange incident prompted questions about potential adhesive substances and led to MLB’s later crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances. Molina denied using any sticky substance, claiming, “I don’t know what happened.” Like ingredients in a recipe that unexpectedly combine to create something completely new, this bizarre physics anomaly left everyone scratching their heads.
6. Roseanne Barr Sings the National Anthem
On July 25, 1990, comedian Roseanne Barr delivered what many consider the most controversial national anthem performance in sports history. Her deliberately off-key, screeching rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” drew immediate boos from 27,000 Padres fans.
Barr then grabbed her crotch and spat on the ground, mimicking behaviors sometimes seen from baseball players. The performance sparked nationwide outrage, with President George H.W. Bush calling it “disgraceful.” The incident struck a sour chord in America’s musical heritage, creating dissonance that would echo through sports entertainment for decades.
5. Tom Brennaman’s Hot Mic Incident
On August 19, 2020, Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was caught on a hot microphone using a homophobic slur during what he thought was a commercial break. When made aware the broadcast was live, Brennaman awkwardly attempted to apologize mid-game.
In a surreal moment, he interrupted his own apology to call a Castellanos home run: “I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith—as there’s a drive into deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run.” The jarring transition became an internet meme, with “Castellanos deep drive to left field” becoming shorthand for awkward interruptions.
4. 50 Cent’s Wild First Pitch
On May 27, 2014, rapper 50 Cent threw out what many consider the worst ceremonial first pitch in baseball history before a Mets game. The pitch veered dramatically to the left, nearly hitting photographers standing well off the baseline. The wild throw went viral immediately.
50 Cent took the ridicule in stride, later joking, “I’m a hustler, not a ballplayer.” Like a relationship that was doomed from the first date, his brief foray into baseball demonstrated that talent in one arena doesn’t always transfer to another.
3. Virtual Fan Experience
During the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLB season, FOX Sports attempted to recreate the atmosphere of filled stadiums with virtual fans. The computer-generated crowds were intended to make empty ballparks feel more normal for viewers at home.
However, the digital fans moved in oddly synchronized patterns and sometimes disappeared into thin air. This created an unsettling “uncanny valley” effect that many viewers found distracting. The virtual spectators couldn’t react naturally to game events, sometimes appearing to cheer for routine outs or remain seated during home runs.
2. The Freeze Loses Race
During a 2017 Atlanta Braves home game, the team’s popular between-innings entertainment “Beat The Freeze” produced an unexpected viral moment. The Freeze—a track athlete in a blue bodysuit—typically gives contestants a significant head start before easily overtaking them.
On June 9, a confident fan began celebrating prematurely, raising his arms in victory as he approached the finish line. The Freeze closed the gap but stumbled just short of overtaking his opponent. Like a movie plot twist no one saw coming, this subversion of expectations delighted audiences nationwide.
Sports media outlets quickly featured the footage, with ESPN’s SportsCenter making it their #1 play of the day. The fan later told reporters, “I thought I had it in the bag. I’ll never celebrate early again.”
1. Phillie Phanatic in Empty Stadium
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, MLB games were played without fans in attendance. At Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Phillies maintained one tradition: the Phillie Phanatic still performed. The beloved green mascot entertained rows of cardboard cutouts purchased by fans wanting their likeness in the stands.
Cameras captured the surreal sight of the energetic mascot performing in an eerily silent stadium. This strange juxtaposition perfectly encapsulated the unusual circumstances baseball faced during the pandemic. It was like watching a chef prepare an elaborate meal with no one there to enjoy it—both poignant and slightly absurd.
