Rain Delays Gone Wild: Mud, Mascots, and Pure Chaos

Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin

Rain delays in baseball are inevitable. The games are mostly played outdoors during the most humid times of the year. Most of the time, fans are entertained by goofy videos on the scoreboard. Sometimes, though, players took it as a challenge to entertain the fans while they waited for the rain to stop. Then there were also times when the comedy was inadvertent. Here are 11 of those times when fans forgot the score and just laughed.

Rick Dempsey’s Legendary Babe Ruth Rain Delay Show (1977)

Let’s get something straight. Rick Dempsey was not a superstar. He was what they call a “Glue Guy,” which meant he was a strong clubhouse presence. His ability to keep things loose was on full display during this rain delay when he pretended to be Babe Ruth and “hit” a home run, frantically waddling around the bases with a pillow under his uniform to simulate the Bambino’s gut. If there was a Rain Delay Hall of Fame, Dempsey would be a unanimous shoo-in his first time on the ballot. Watch the Fenway rain-delay montage featuring Dempsey’s Babe Ruth act on YouTube.

Robin Ventura’s Perfect Mike Piazza Impression (June 11, 2000)

During a soggy evening at Yankee Stadium, Mets third baseman Robin Ventura brought the house down with his pitch-perfect impression of teammate Mike Piazza. Complete with Piazza’s distinctive batting stance and hair flip, Ventura’s performance had both dugouts in stitches, including the guy he was imitating. Watch Ventura imitate Piazza during the rain delay (YouTube).

Rick Dempsey’s Robin Yount Impression with Sammy Stewart (1983)

The master of rain delay theater struck again at County Stadium, with teammate Sammy Stewart joining the act. While Stewart did his best Jim Palmer impression, even modeling underwear like Palmer did at the time as his off-season gig, Dempsey delivered a spot-on Robin Yount, complete with the MVP’s signature batting stance and home run celebration. Yount playfully ripped the jersey off at the end. Watch Dempsey (as Yount) & Stewart (as Palmer) on YouTube.

Marlins’ High School Grounds Crew vs. The Tarp (June 29, 1993)

In their inaugural season, the Marlins’ cost-cutting decision to hire high school students as their grounds crew led to an unforgettable 15-minute struggle with the tarp during a Mets game. By the time they finally got it on the field, the rain had stopped – but the moment lives on in baseball lore. The imagery of New York manager Dallas Green looking on with bemusement while other Mets were in stitches made it even better. Watch the 1993 Marlins grounds crew vs. tarp clip (YouTube).

Yankees Grounds Crew vs. Heavy Tarp vs. Royals (July 8, 2013)

Even the professionals sometimes meet their match. The usually efficient Yankees’ grounds crew found themselves in an epic battle when their tarp became waterlogged halfway through covering the infield. The resulting struggle had fans cheering louder than they had all game. Watch the Yankees crew battling a waterlogged tarp (YouTube).

Yankees and Red Sox Dugouts Scatter After Thunder Clap (June 2, 2013)

Baseball’s biggest rivalry took a backseat when a massive thunderclap sent both dugouts scrambling for cover. Brett Gardner’s startled reaction became an instant classic, proving that even the toughest baseball players aren’t immune to Mother Nature’s surprises. Boston’s players also made a beeline for their clubhouse. Watch the thunderclap send both dugouts running (YouTube).

Cubs-Diamondbacks Bullpen Olympics (August 3, 2017)

When rain hit Wrigley Field, both bullpens turned the delay into an impromptu Olympics. From human bowling to bobsled reenactments, the relievers proved they could bring the entertainment even when the game was paused. Watch the Bullpen Olympics at Wrigley (YouTube).

Josh Hamilton’s Rangers Tarp Slide (May 9, 2012)

The former MVP showed his playful side during a Rangers rain delay, treating the tarp like his personal slip-n-slide. Hamilton’s graceful belly flop had fans forgetting about the weather and cheering for more. Watch Hamilton & the Rangers tarp-slide in Baltimore (YouTube).

Royals Grounds Crew Member’s Epic Tumble (August 2021)

At Kauffman Stadium, one determined grounds crew member became an instant viral sensation when they went head over heels while trying to wrangle the tarp. The tumble might not have been intentional, but it certainly provided some unexpected entertainment. Watch the Royals grounds crew tarp mishap (YouTube).

Blooper’s Rain Angels During Braves-Mets Delay (April 10, 2024)

The Braves’ lovable mascot Blooper turned Truist Park into his personal water park, lying down on the soaked field to make “rain angels.” The impromptu performance had fans forgetting about the weather delay entirely. See Blooper’s rain-delay “angels” (YouTube search results).

Yolmer Sánchez’s Mud Angels at Third Base (May 27, 2019)

When the White Sox-Royals game was suspended in the fifth inning, Yolmer Sánchez decided to make the most of the muddy conditions. The third baseman’s gleeful mud angels showed that the best baseball moments sometimes happen when the game isn’t even being played. There was probably one person not amused—the clubhouse attendant who had to clean the muddy jersey. Watch Yolmer’s mud angels (YouTube).

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