Baseball is often called America's pastime, but its history is full of oddities. The game involves more than just hitting a ball with a wooden bat. Furthermore, strange superstitions and bizarre injuries have shaped the sport for over a century. Consequently, even die-hard fans miss the weirdest details hidden in the record books. Step up to the plate and explore these fascinating secrets.
Baseball
Every single MLB baseball gets rubbed with special mud before the game starts. Umpires use a secret soil from the Delaware River to improve the grip. Therefore, the pitcher can throw the ball without it slipping.
A 17-year-old girl once struck out two baseball legends back-to-back. Jackie Mitchell faced Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig during an exhibition match. Amazingly, she sat them both down with her sharp breaking ball.
The shortest player in history stood only three feet and seven inches tall. Eddie Gaedel wore the number “1/8” on his jersey during his one appearance. Consequently, the pitcher walked him because his strike zone was microscopic.
A regulation baseball has a shockingly short lifespan during a professional game. On average, officials replace the ball after just six pitches. Thus, teams go through dozens of balls every single night.
The famous “high five” gesture actually started on a baseball field. Glenn Burke greeted teammate Dusty Baker this way after a home run in 1977. Since then, the move has become a global symbol of celebration.
One catcher named Harry Chiti was famously traded for himself. The team sent him away for a “player to be named later.” Eventually, they chose him back, completing the weirdest loop in sports.
Pitcher Randy Johnson once exploded a bird with a 100 mph fastball. The dove flew across the plate at the exact wrong moment. Feathers instantly covered the batter in a truly one-in-a-million event.
The New York Mets still pay Bobby Bonilla over a million dollars annually. They deferred his contract buyout in 2000 with a high interest rate. Therefore, he receives checks every July 1st until the year 2035.
Clarence Blethen once slid into a base with false teeth in his pocket. Unfortunately, he forgot they were there during the aggressive play. The teeth bit him on the backside, causing a very strange injury.
A manager predicted that a man would walk on the moon before Gaylord Perry hit a homer. Remarkably, Perry hit his first home run on the day of the Apollo landing.
Only one MLB player has ever died directly from an injury during a game. Ray Chapman took a pitch to the head in 1920. As a result, the league eventually made batting helmets mandatory for everyone.
Players are incredibly superstitious about their winning streaks and routines. Consequently, some refuse to wash their helmets or socks for weeks. They fear that cleaning the gear will wash away their good luck.
The Savannah Bananas are strictly changing how people watch baseball today. They introduce wild rules like counting a caught foul ball by a fan as an out. Thus, their viral fame rivals major league teams on social media.
During World War II, the league nearly ran out of quality wood for bats. Manufacturers had to scramble to find suitable lumber to keep the games going.
Finally, foul balls injure more spectators than you might expect. Statistics show that stray balls hurt roughly 1,750 fans every year. Therefore, stadiums recently extended protective netting to keep the crowds safer.
