Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
The baseball season’s a long one. Teams spend at least six months together, and each game lasts around three hours. That means that there’s a LOT of downtime. Players get bored, and the results can be some of the most legendary pranks and other antics caught on camera. There have been countless hotfoots, for example, too many to list here. Here are other things that made things much less monotonous and also made fans chuckle, or even roar with laughter.
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Roger McDowell’s Uniform Remix (1986)
The Mets’ resident prankster took dugout comedy to new heights when he appeared wearing his uniform pants as a shirt and his jersey as pants. McDowell, already famous for his “hot foot” pranks, had teammates and even the typically stoic Keith Hernandez in stitches. It was peak ’86 Mets – a team that played hard and laughed harder.
McCutchen’s Bubblegum Bucket Hat (2014)
Pirates MVP Andrew McCutchen proved even superstars know how to keep things light by donning the team’s entire bubblegum bucket as impromptu headwear. The moment went viral before “going viral” was even a thing, showing Cutch’s playful side during his peak years in Pittsburgh. The bucket somehow looked more stylish on him than most actual baseball caps. Also, has anyone seen Cutch and the guitarist Buckethead in the same room?
Pedro Martinez’s Yoda Wisdom (2004)
“Win the World Series, you will…” During the Red Sox’s historic 2004 run, ace Pedro Martinez lightened the mood by channeling his inner Jedi master. Sporting a Yoda mask in the dugout, Pedro brought Star Wars energy to Boston’s quest to break the curse. The Force was definitely with them that season.
Cardinals’ Wrigley Duck Feeding (2023)
When a friendly duck waddled up to the Cardinals’ dugout at Wrigley Field, Willson Contreras and his teammates turned into impromptu wildlife hosts. Armed with sunflower seeds, they created an unlikely friendship that momentarily united Cubs and Cardinals fans. Even the Cubs’ broadcast couldn’t help but root for this feathered friend.
Kiké Hernández’s Rally Banana Suit (2015)
Kiké Hernández is probably the only player in baseball with the charisma to pull something like this off. The Dodgers were in extra innings against the Giants, and Hernandez needed to wear his banana suit for luck. The Dodgers won 5-4, and the Rally Banana became a team tradition. Sometimes the best baseball strategies aren’t found in any playbook.
Carlos Martinez’s Cup Pyramid Defense (2015)
Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez showed more defensive skills protecting his elaborate dugout cup pyramid than most Gold Glovers. As teammates tried to topple his masterpiece, Martinez’s passionate defense of his creation became an instant classic. Some art is meant to be temporary, but this moment lives forever.
The Twins’ Rubber Snake Attack (2023)
You can hear the cry uttered here, right? “Snakes? Why did it have to be snakes?” The Twins decided to have a little fun with a rubber snake. All’s fair when it comes to loosening things up, right?
Seiya Suzuki’s Crying Performance (2023)
When Cubs coach Willie Harris playfully snatched a foul ball from Seiya Suzuki, the Japanese star responded with an Oscar-worthy performance. He first pretended to cry, and then, when he got the ball back, he had such a gleeful expression while rubbing the ball with both hands. Baseball’s a hard game, and anything that can lighten the mood is worth it.
The Cubs-Rockies Cup Art Battle (2014)
Long games usually spell boredom for bench players, but these teams turned it into an art competition. Using cups to spell out team names on the dugout railing, they created an impromptu exhibition that, while not exactly museum-worthy, was still fun to look at. Sometimes the best entertainment happens when the game isn’t even being played.
Cardinals’ Mission to Make the Cop Crack (2013)
During Game 5 of the 2013 NLCS at Dodger Stadium, the Cardinals’ dugout found an unlikely target for entertainment: a stone-faced security officer positioned near their dugout. Joe Kelly led the charge, with teammates joining in, trying everything from funny faces to dance moves to crack the cop’s professional demeanor. Even in the pressure of playoff baseball, the Cardinals proved that everyone’s inner child comes out in the dugout.