10 Strange Events That Took Place During a Baseball Game

Since its founding over 150 years ago, the game of baseball has had its share of ups and downs, along with plenty of bizarre moments along the way. We’ve mentioned a few of them before, but it turns out many more wacky moments have come and gone since the sport’s inception. Such as …

1. The Time a Bird Exploded Mid-Air

One of the most infamous moments in baseball history occurred on March 24, 2001, during a spring training game. Randy Johnson, known for his blistering fastballs, pitched a ball that struck a dove mid-flight. The bird instantly exploded in a cloud of feathers, leaving players, umpires, and fans stunned. It’s still one of the most surreal images in sports history.

2. Disco Demolition Night (1979)

The Chicago White Sox wanted to attract fans with a disco record-burning promotion between games of a doubleheader. The plan backfired spectacularly when fans stormed the field, started fires, and rioted, forcing the White Sox to forfeit the second game. The field was so damaged that it was deemed unplayable.

3. The Disappearing Ball Trick

In 1959, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix famously threw 12 perfect innings, only to lose the game in the 13th. But another strange moment came in a 1982 game, when Dodgers player Dusty Baker hit a deep fly ball—only for it to mysteriously disappear in the lights. The outfielder couldn’t find it, and it dropped behind him for a triple.

4. Tommy Lasorda’s Mascot Battle

During a 1988 Phillies game, the Phillie Phanatic brought out a doll dressed in a Dodgers uniform and mocked Tommy Lasorda. The famously fiery manager snapped, stormed out of the dugout, and started beating the doll. The fans were in hysterics, and Lasorda’s rage became one of the most GIF-worthy moments in baseball lore.

5. Bees on the Field

On multiple occasions, baseball games have been interrupted by swarms of bees. In 2009, a spring training game between the Rockies and Diamondbacks was delayed after a massive swarm descended on the outfield. The players had to lie flat on the grass to avoid being stung until officials could safely remove the swarm.

6. The Pine Tar Incident

In 1983, George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit what should have been a game-winning home run. However, Yankees manager Billy Martin challenged the play, claiming Brett had too much pine tar on his bat. The umpires agreed and called him out. Brett stormed out of the dugout in one of the angriest tirades ever seen. The ruling was later overturned, and the Royals won the game.

7. When the Lights Went Out

In 1990, a blackout at Boston’s Fenway Park forced the Red Sox and Mariners to pause their game mid-play. Power failures aren’t unheard of in sports, but the eerie quiet and confused players wandering around the darkened diamond made this an especially strange night at the ballpark.

8. The Ten-Cent Beer Night Riot

Cleveland’s infamous 1974 promotion—offering beer for just 10 cents—quickly turned into chaos. Fans became increasingly drunk and rowdy, culminating in a ninth-inning riot where spectators stormed the field. The Indians and Rangers had to flee for safety, and the game was called off. It remains one of the wildest promotions-gone-wrong in sports history.

9. The Game with a Cat

In 1969, a black cat wandered onto the field during a Cubs vs. Mets game at Shea Stadium. It famously walked directly in front of the Cubs’ dugout, an omen many blamed for the Cubs’ subsequent collapse in the standings that year. Superstitions live strong in baseball, and the cat only added to the mythology.

10. Ball Girl Makes SportsCenter

In a 2011 game, a Dodgers ball girl made a spectacular leaping catch of a foul ball while perched near the stands. The crowd erupted, and the clip quickly went viral. It was one of those moments that had nothing to do with the score—but reminded everyone why baseball is full of unexpected magic.