From triple plays to grand slams to the Mets actually winning a game for once, the decades-long history of America’s national pastime is filled with unlikely events that get entire stadiums on their feet. But some things are wilder than others. Let’s take a look at a handful of absolutely bizarre and unlikely things that have gone down in baseball history. 

10. An 18-year-old Girl Strikes Out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig

In 1931, an unlikely baseball tale emerged that would go down in the annals of the sport’s lore. Jackie Mitchell, an 18-year-old female pitcher, was signed by the Chattanooga Lookouts, a Double-A minor league team. Though women in baseball were a rarity, what happened next was even more astonishing.

During an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Mitchell was put to the ultimate test. She faced off against two of baseball’s greatest legends: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. With a sidearm delivery that reportedly perplexed the hitters, she managed to strike out both Ruth and Gehrig consecutively. Ruth, seemingly frustrated, threw his bat down. The crowd was ecstatic. While some argued the event was a publicity stunt (and the Commissioner of Baseball voided Mitchell’s contract shortly after, stupidly claiming baseball was “too strenuous” for women), the feat remains an incredible and often overlooked moment in baseball history. Jackie Mitchell’s name is forever etched alongside those of Ruth and Gehrig, not as a fan or a bystander, but as the young pitcher who, at least for one day, bested the best.

9. Disco Demolition Night 

In the annals of baseball promotions gone awry, “Disco Demolition Night” stands out as one of the wildest. The setting was Chicago’s Comiskey Park on July 12, 1979. To boost sagging attendance, the Chicago White Sox and a local rock radio station, WLUP, collaborated on a promotional event where fans could bring a disco record to the game in exchange for a discounted ticket.

The plan? Between the doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, the collected records would be blown up in the outfield by the event’s mastermind, disco-hating radio personality Steve Dahl. Sounds simple, right? Not so much. What was intended as a lighthearted jab at the waning disco trend quickly spiraled out of control. The explosion tore a hole in the outfield grass, and the sight of the fiery disco vinyls ignited the anti-disco sentiment in the crowd. Thousands stormed the field, dancing on the dugouts, setting records ablaze, and causing chaos.

The melee led to cops shutting everything down and the White Sox forfeiting the second game (a rare occurrence in MLB history) due to the unplayable conditions. 

8. Two Grand Slams in One Inning

Getting one grand slam in your career is an impressive accomplishment. Getting two in one inning should make you a legend. But that’s what Fernando Tatis did on April 23, 1999. Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tatis achieved a record that still stands today: he hit two grand slams in a single inning. And, just to put an extra twist on this insane baseball tale, both came off the same undoubtedly humiliated pitcher, Chan Ho Park.

Setting the scene: it’s the third inning, and Tatis steps up with bases loaded. Boom – grand slam. The Cards batted around, and once again, Tatis found himself at the plate with three men on base. Against all odds, he did it again – another grand slam. Eight RBIs in one inning, an MLB record for any player. The Cardinals went on to win 12-5, with Tatis’ incredible achievement stealing the show. It’s a record that’s been untouched for over two decades and speaks volumes to the unpredictability and magic of baseball.

7. The One-handed Pitcher

Few stories in baseball, or sports in general, inspire quite like that of Jim Abbott. Born without a right hand, Abbott never let his disability define him. Instead, he took to the baseball diamond and made magic happen. Not just content with making it to the major leagues, which in itself would have been a commendable feat, Abbott carved out a 10-year MLB career and stands as a testament to determination and talent combined.

Playing for teams like the California Angels and New York Yankees, Abbott even pitched a no-hitter in 1993 against the Cleveland Indians, one of baseball’s pinnacle achievements. He had a unique technique of resting his glove on the end of his right arm, quickly switching the glove to his left hand after throwing the ball to be ready for any defensive play. Jim Abbott’s story transcends baseball; it’s a powerful lesson on perseverance, challenging perceived limitations, and achieving greatness against the odds. And it’s a wonder we don’t have a movie about him yet. 

6. Babe Ruth’s Called Shot

In baseball folklore, few moments are as debated and iconic as Babe Ruth’s “called shot” during the 1932 World Series. Game three, Wrigley Field, the New York Yankees versus the Chicago Cubs. The atmosphere was electric, with the crowd relentlessly heckling Ruth. The Sultan of Swat was at bat, two strikes against him. That’s when the magic happened.

As the story goes, Ruth made a pointing gesture, which many believe was him indicating the center-field bleachers. On the very next pitch, he sent the ball sailing right into that exact same section of bleachers for a home run. While the truth of whether he really “called” his shot is still a matter of debate (some say he was pointing at the pitcher, others think he was responding to the Cubs’ bench), the legend of the called shot has grown to epitomize Ruth’s larger-than-life presence in baseball history. Regardless of the exact details, it remains one of the game’s most unforgettable moments.

5. Ted Williams’ Last At-Bat

Talk about a storybook ending to a legendary career. When it comes to baseball’s greatest moments, Ted Williams’ home run at his last at-bat is right up there. It was September 28, 1960, and the Boston Red Sox were facing the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Williams, often referred to as “The Splendid Splinter” and considered one of the best hitters in baseball history, was playing in his final game.

The crowd was tense, hopeful for one last glimpse of Williams’ magic. And he delivered. In the eighth inning, Williams faced Jack Fisher and with that impeccable swing of his, sent the ball over the center-field wall for a home run. He didn’t tip his cap or acknowledge the roaring crowd, just ran the bases and headed into the dugout, true to his no-fuss attitude. It was an iconic moment, a poetic end to the illustrious career of a baseball titan. That home run, his 521st, encapsulated the essence of Williams: excellence till the very end.

4. The Curse of the Billy Goat

Everyone knows the Curse of the Bambino that supposedly kept the Red Sox from winning a World Series for 86 years: punishment for trading away Babe Ruth in 1919. But the Chicago Cubs were cursed too, and all because of a goat. During the 1945 World Series, Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, tried to bring his pet goat, Murphy, into Wrigley Field for Game 4. He even had a ticket for Murphy! However, fans complained about the goat’s smell, leading to the pair being kicked out.

Incensed by the ejection, Sianis allegedly declared, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more!” And, eerily, his words held weight. Thanks to the Curse of the Billy Goat, the Cubs lost the series to the Detroit Tigers and then didn’t even make it back to the World Series for 71 years. Throughout that time, many believed the team was cursed by the disgruntled tavern owner and his goat.

In 2016, the Cubs finally put the curse to rest by winning the World Series, beating the Cleveland Indians. It took decades, but Cubs fans could finally celebrate a victory without the shadow of Murphy looming over their celebrations.

3. Johnny Vander Meer’s Consecutive No-Hitters

In the grand annals of baseball achievements, Johnny Vander Meer’s feat stands out as one that might just remain untouched forever. In 1938, this Cincinnati Reds pitcher accomplished the unthinkable by throwing two no-hitters in back-to-back starts. Think about how skilled and lucky you have to be to throw a single no-hitter, where no one on the other team gets a single hit. Now imagine how much more untouchable you have to be to get two in a row. On June 11, Vander Meer kept the Boston Bees hitless. But what makes this even more mind-blowing? Just four days later, on June 15, he repeated the magic against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

And it wasn’t just any game against the Dodgers; it was the first night game at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, packed with over 38,000 fans. The pressure was palpable, but Vander Meer was unyielding, cementing his place in baseball lore. Over the decades, while several pitchers have come close with consecutive one-hitters, no one has matched Vander Meer’s successive no hitters, making it one of the sport’s most enduring records.

2. Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ‘Round the World’

One of baseball’s most iconic moments, the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” refers to a game-winning home run by New York Giants’ outfielder Bobby Thomson. On October 3, 1951, the Giants were playing the Brooklyn Dodgers in a tiebreaker series to determine the National League pennant winner. It was the third and decisive game of this series, with the Dodgers leading 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Thomson stepped up to the plate with two men on base. Facing Ralph Branca, he launched a pitch into the left-field stands for a three-run homer, giving the Giants a stunning 5-4 victory. The pandemonium that followed was immortalized by Giants’ radio announcer Russ Hodges, who excitedly repeated, “The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!” The dramatic finish added another chapter to the intense Dodgers-Giants rivalry and remains one of the most celebrated moments in baseball history.

1. The 26-Inning Game

Unlike most other sports, baseball doesn’t allow tie games. This can lead to unpredictable lengths, like 10 or 11 inning games. But one game takes the cake for endurance. On May 1, 1920, the Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Robins (later known as the Dodgers) locked horns in what would become the longest professional baseball game by innings that didn’t end in a tie. The game was played at Boston’s Braves Field.

Both teams remained scoreless through an astounding 26 innings, thanks to the impeccable pitching performances from both starting pitchers. Leon Cadore pitched the entire game for Brooklyn, while Joe Oeschger did the same for Boston. Both pitchers threw over 20 innings each, a feat unimaginable in today’s game. After 26 innings and the sun setting, the game was called off due to darkness, ending in a 1-1 tie. The entire contest lasted just 3 hours and 50 minutes, surprisingly swift for the amount of baseball played.