Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
I had a coach when I was growing up. “I accept physical errors. That’s part of the game, and you’re trying. Mental mistakes … those are gonna kill you.” It turned out that even the professionals, the ones who played this for a living and were often highly paid for it, could make mental mistakes. Here are 10 of the more egregious examples of brain lock — though for most of these players, it was a small footnote in what would turn out to be successful careers, and could be looked back at somewhat fondly.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus, we'll send you other unbelievable stories from baseball's past.
Merkle’s Boner: Running Off Before Touching Second
Here’s how the story is first told in a nutshell: In 1908, Fred Merkle became baseball’s original goat by dashing off the field without touching second base, costing the New York Giants a crucial game in the pennant race. The truth: Yeah, he did screw up, but he was a 19-year-old teen who had to play in place of an injured teammate. Also, there is no proof that the Cubs got the original ball and touched second base with it. There was no television then, so all we have is hearsay. But poor Merkle…
Larry Walker Hands a Ball to a Fan—With One Out Left
In a moment of pure Canadian hospitality, Larry Walker caught a fly ball and, thinking the inning was over, handed it to a fan—except there was still one out to go. Upon realizing his gaffe, he quickly got the ball back from the fan and threw a flat-footed strike to the plate. At least he’s in the Hall of Fame and can laugh about it now .
David Cone Argues… While the Runners Keep Running
David Cone had a play where he covered first on a grounder to the first baseman. He clearly touched the base WELL before the Atlanta Braves runner. Unfortunately, the first base umpire was Charlie Williams, who made Angel Hernandez look good and called him safe. Cone was so incensed that he started arguing with Williams … without trying to call time. The play was still live, and the Braves runners were rounding the bases as fast as they could, scoring twice. Cone could only storm back to the mound with a scowl as Davey Johnson ran out to argue. The right-hander would go on to throw a perfect game later in his career, so this was a mere blip.
Blauch Head: Chuck Knoblauch Argues While Runners Keep Running
Yes, here’s another example of someone arguing while the play continues around them. This time it was the 1998 ALCS against the then-Cleveland Indians. Travis Fryman laid down a great bunt that made Tino Martinez have to come down the line to field it. Chuck Knoblauch, showing his knowledge of the fundamentals, raced to first to cover. Martinez’s throw hit Fryman in the back, and rather than getting the ball, Knoblauch stood there like a statue, arguing that the runner had run out of the baseline. While that happened, Enrique Wilson scored. It turned out to be another blip, since the Yankees went on to crush the rest of the playoffs and win their second World Series in three years.
Kolten Wong Gets Picked Off to End a World Series Game
Cardinals fans still wince at the memory: Game 4 of the 2013 World Series, Kolten Wong came in as a pinch-runner and was looking to help St. Louis take a 3-1 Series lead. He got caught leaning too far and got picked off to end the game. Instead of a commanding Series lead, it was now tied 2-2, and Boston went on to win the whole thing.
John Kruk Forgets the Outs—And Earns Extra Bubble Gum
John Kruk once caught a ball and, thinking there were three outs, put his head down and started running in. Oops. There were two. Here he is frantically throwing the ball. His manager, never one to miss a punchline, promised him three sticks of bubble gum each inning, and he’d put one in his mouth after each out. When there was no more gum in his pocket, he’d know to come in.
The Pirates Forget How Force Outs Work—Javy Báez Runs Wild
Here was an incident where, if you listened carefully, you could hear an entire stadium do a face palm. It happened in 2021 with the Cubs playing the Pirates in Pittsburgh. There were two outs and a runner on second. Javy Baez hit a little grounder to Will Craig, the first baseman. Rather than do the smart thing and just step on first and end the inning, Craig decided to get cute and chase Baez down the line in a goofy game of tag. The runner, seeing this going on, came charging around third and scored ahead of a belated Craig throw. Oh, readers, it gets even worse. Baez then ran to first, WHERE NO ONE WAS COVERING. He then ran to second, and the second baseman dropped the throw. That was far as Baez got, but the Cubs dugout was in stitches, and Craig was likely updating his resume.
Lonnie Smith’s World Series Baserunning Brain Freeze
Game 7, 1991 World Series. Lonnie Smith lost track of the ball on a key double and hesitated between second and third, costing the Braves a run that might have changed history. He fell for a deke between the second baseman and shortstop, which made baseball coaches all around the world say “Keep track of the ball!”
Marv Throneberry Misses Both First and Second
Marv Throneberry was part of the 1962 Mets, a hapless expansion team. There was a time when he hit what seemed to be a triple against the Cubs. The Cubs appealed the play, and after the ball was thrown to first baseman Ernie Banks, Marvelous Marv was called out for missing the bag. When his manager, the legendary Casey Stengel, went to argue, the head umpire said, “Don’t bother, Casey, he missed second base, too!” That perfectly encapsulated the bumbling ’62 Mets.
Babe Ruth Gets Thrown Out Stealing to End the World Series
If there was ever a moment where a crowd said, “What is he DOING?” in unison, this was it. It was Game 7 in the 1926 World Series against the Cardinals. The mighty Babe Ruth was on first, representing the tying run. By this point, he had become the BABE, which meant he had reached his heavier years. While he might have been able to catch some catchers sleeping, at this point, the backstops would have had to be comatose. He took off for second, and the catcher shook off any initial shock and easily threw out the corpulent Ruth to end the Series. Oops.