The Baseball Prank Hall of Fame?

[SirFozzie]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23235984/ (the video of the prank is up on CNN.com)

This one's pretty good, but I dunno if it's a hall of fame candidate:

Some of the other ones I remember reading about (some of these are from Ron Luciano's biographies.)

The Atomic Hotfoot (The original hot foot is just sticking a match in an unsuspecting teammates cleat), and then lighting it.. Jay Johnstone, then of the Dodgers came up with a version where FIVE matches were lit off one. That's ok, someone got Johnstone back. They waited until he was giving someone a hotfoot, and he was so distracted, that he didn't notice someone giving HIM a hotfoot.

The Brownie in Garvey's Glove Yet another Jay Johnstone special.. apparently a local group had baked the LA Dodgers a bunch of delicious, gooey brownies (and no, these weren't the "special type" of brownies.). To Jay Johnstone they were perfect for two things.. either eating, or putting it in Steve Garvey's glove when he wasn't looking.

Apparently Garvey was the last man up the inning before, and just ran to the dugout to get his glove (with the pre-inning fielding practice ball inside), and his sunglasses. Garvey didn't notice the brownie, and squished the glove against his side while he used both hands to adjust his sunglasses. Johnstone KNEW what was happening to the Brownie.. I'll let his recorded story tell the rest..

"I sidled up to (fellow Dodgers pitcher Jerry) Reuss and started wiping the chocolate off on his pants. I then trotted by Garvey (who had just discovered the completely squished brownie all over everything and was coming into the dugout with fire in his eyes) to the bullpen "to get loose", just so I wouldn't be in the line of fire. So Garvey comes in, sees the chocolate on Reuss's uniform, and figured him for the prank. So naturally (Garvey) started jumping on him and beating him on the chest."

Derek Bell's Car
(Found this elsewhere)
Probably the best prank was when Joe Carter,then with the Blue Jays organized a giveaway in which a lucky fan would go home with a new car.

After the game,the fans at Skydome stayed around to see who would win the car.What the fans didn't know that the car belonged to Blue Jays outfielder Derek Bell.

As soon as the outfield gate swung open,Joe Carter comes pulls up in Derek Bell's car.The look on Bell's face was priceless because he thought that he was going to lose his car to some lucky fan.


There's others.. but the game needs more looney tunes like Johnstone, Bill Lee, ecetera.

[Coffee Warlord]

Saw a clip at last year's Cubs spring training where Ryan Dempster yanked the tires off Will Ohman's (edited for the right victim) truck, put it on cinder blocks, and scattered the tires around the clubhouse/field for him to find.

Johnstone's books were hilarious reads, too. As was Baseball Confidential.

[SirFozzie]

Saw a clip at last year's Cubs spring training where Ryan Dempster yanked the tires off Glendon Rusch's (I think) truck, put it on cinder blocks, and scattered the tires around the clubhouse/field for him to find.

Johnstone's books were hilarious reads, too. As was Baseball Confidential.

*laughs*

[Comey]

The Phillies just pulled a prank where Charlie Manuel brought Kyle Kendrick into his office and told him he was traded to Japan. Ruben Amaro held a press conference announcing it, and the media asked Kendrick questions about going to Japan, before Brett Myers came in and let him in on the joke.

It was pretty funny to see (it was aired on Comcast SportsNet, who got everything), and can be found on YouTube as of yesterday.

[Dr. Sak]

How about the one where Derek Bell played a prank on the Pirates and went into Operation Shutdown?

Or the time when Raul Mondesi signed with the Pirates, then said he didn't want to play baseball anymore, only to resign with another team a few months later?

Those were the days...

[molson]

I wonder if Brett Myers yells "you've been punked!" after he punches his wife in the face.

[rkmsuf]

Liquid heat in their jocks is always a classic.

[Dr. Sak]

I wonder if Brett Myers yells "you've been punked!" after he punches his wife in the face.

No he says...

"What did the Five fingers say to the face..."

[Maple Leafs]

When a Blue Jay is named player of the game and is being interviewed on TV, the other players try to hit him in the face with a pie.

That was really funny the first few times they did it. You know, like 8,000 times ago.

[st.cronin]

Saw a clip at last year's Cubs spring training where Ryan Dempster yanked the tires off Will Ohman's (edited for the right victim) truck, put it on cinder blocks, and scattered the tires around the clubhouse/field for him to find.

How is that a prank? That just seems like vandalism to me. Here's a hilarious prank I pulled, I broke all my neighbor's windows! :confused:

[Logan]

The Phillies just pulled a prank where Charlie Manuel brought Kyle Kendrick into his office and told him he was traded to Japan. Ruben Amaro held a press conference announcing it, and the media asked Kendrick questions about going to Japan, before Brett Myers came in and let him in on the joke.

It was pretty funny to see (it was aired on Comcast SportsNet, who got everything), and can be found on YouTube as of yesterday.

...and also in the first couple sentences of this thread :).

[Comey]

Oh, so it is. My bad.

[DanGarion]

How is that a prank? That just seems like vandalism to me. Here's a hilarious prank I pulled, I broke all my neighbor's windows! :confused:

Dude they just took the tires off. It's not like they stuck knifes in them and destroyed them...

[rkmsuf]

Dude they just took the tires off. It's not like they stuck knifes in them and destroyed them...

who is putting that shit back on?

a prank is like taping someone to the goalpost. not undertaking and causing hours of work.

[Logan]

who is putting that shit back on?

One of the many clubhouse attendants that do everything else for these players for tips. Putting tires on a truck was probably the highlight of the guy's week.

[rkmsuf]

One of the many clubhouse attendants that do everything else for these players for tips. Putting tires on a truck was probably the highlight of the guy's week.

Well shit. I don't like that at all.

[Pumpy Tudors]

How about the one where Derek Bell played a prank on the Pirates and went into Operation Shutdown?

Or the time when Raul Mondesi signed with the Pirates, then said he didn't want to play baseball anymore, only to resign with another team a few months later?

Those were the days...
I liked the one that the PA announcer pulled on the fans at PNC Park last year. He said, "The Pirates win!" Oh, how we laughed.

[DanGarion]

who is putting that shit back on?

a prank is like taping someone to the goalpost. not undertaking and causing hours of work.

It depends, if you are a poor sport and get your panties in a bunch you are. If you behave about it, I'm sure the guys will help you out finding someone to do it.

[Oilers9911]

How about the "wedding" the Jays held for Aaron Hill and Russ Adams a couple years back?

Wedding bells: Just because they aren't rookies any more doesn't mean second baseman Aaron Hill and shortstop Russ Adams are dismissed as targets of team pranks. On Wednesday, the Major League sophomores were the victim of a very extravagant practical joke played by pitchers Roy Halladay and Burnett.

The young double-play tandem had been giving Halladay and Burnett a hard time this spring because of how much time the pitchers had been spending together. Halladay and Burnett decided to use some of their hefty disposable income to poke fun at how close of a relationship Hill and Adams have.

While the team stretched before the game on Wednesday, an airplane flew over Knology Park, with a banner trailing behind that read, "Aaron, Will you marry me? I love you! Russ." As if that wasn't enough, a ceremony was held for the middle infielders in the players' dining room, complete with a cake, a fondue pot, wedding presents, flowers, a DJ and a videographer. Halladay and Burnett performed the mock wedding.

Hill and Adams were fitted with tuxedo jackets with their numbers stitched on the back and an SUV, decorated with balloons and streamers, was waiting outside the stadium with "Just Married" written on the back window. Then, before the third inning of the game against the Phillies, the plane returned with another message: "Congratulations, Aaron and Russ."

"Bottom line: Don't mess with the veterans," Hill joked. "They can outfund us. We're done."

[rkmsuf]

It depends, if you are a poor sport and get your panties in a bunch you are. If you behave about it, I'm sure the guys will help you out finding someone to do it.

takes a little something away from the prank in the fact it creates a hassle. and it's not even really that funny to begin with.

[Atocep]

How is that a prank? That just seems like vandalism to me. Here's a hilarious prank I pulled, I broke all my neighbor's windows! :confused:

Ohman got Dempster back by sucking all season and keeping him from getting save chances.

[Dr. Sak]

I liked the one that the PA announcer pulled on the fans at PNC Park last year. He said, "The Pirates win!" Oh, how we laughed.

Or the one where Kevin Young took HGH...and STILL SUCKED!!!

[Pumpy Tudors]

I think the Pirates are pulling an elaborate prank on the National League by scheduling games against all the other NL teams each season.

[Dr. Sak]

They are playing a prank on their fans masquerading as a Major League Baseball team.

[heybrad]

In Jay Johnstones book he talked about having to take a physical when reporting to spring training. He was asked to give a urine sample but instead gave the nurse a cup of apple juice. When the nurse looked at it thinking it was piss, she said, "This is very cloudy." Johnstone grabbed the cup and told the nurse, "Hang on, I'll recycle it" and then drank the cup.

[Dr. Sak]

heybrad!!!

[stevew]

With the first pick in the 2002 MLB draft, the Pirates select Ball State right-hander Bryan Bullington.

That was a funny ass joke right there.

[Atocep]

With the first pick in the 2002 MLB draft, the Pirates select Ball State right-hander Bryan Bullington.

That was a funny ass joke right there.

And a year earlier they took the 2nd rated college hitter and tried to make him a pitcher...

[stevew]

And a year earlier they took the 2nd rated college hitter and tried to make him a pitcher...

I was actually at a game where Van Benschotten hit a homer. looked to have a much better batting stroke than a pitching one, he got beat up IIRC.

[Dr. Sak]

A few years ago the Pirates hurried up and hired Lloyd McClendon as their manager because they didn't want anyone else to have them... HAHAHAH

[stevew]

How about building your franchise around right handed hitter Jason Bay. A player who bats significantly better on the road than at home. PNC was more or less designed for Lefty hitters.

[Young Drachma]

The Phillies just pulled a prank where Charlie Manuel brought Kyle Kendrick into his office and told him he was traded to Japan. Ruben Amaro held a press conference announcing it, and the media asked Kendrick questions about going to Japan, before Brett Myers came in and let him in on the joke.

It was pretty funny to see (it was aired on Comcast SportsNet, who got everything), and can be found on YouTube as of yesterday.

I saw that on Sportscenter and thought it was hilarious.

[Butter]

Then there was that thread that all the Pirate fans took over and single-handedly killed...

[Dr. Sak]

How about building your franchise around right handed hitter Jason Bay. A player who bats significantly better on the road than at home. PNC was more or less designed for Lefty hitters.

How about building your ball park by a river...then the first person to hit one into the river from your team be a pitcher!

[Dr. Sak]

Then there was that thread that all the Pirate fans took over and single-handedly killed...

I am no such thing! Wash your mouth out with soap and apologize to all 10 Pirate fans.

[Ksyrup]

The Kendrick prank was not only pulled over 10 years ago by the Phillies, but Larry Andersen, the guy who originally did it to Wayne Gomes, was the one who suggested to Myers and some Comcast reporter that they use it on Kendrick.

[Maple Leafs]

I remember reading a story in the mid-80s about a "prank" the Blue Jays pulled on Wade Boggs. Apparently he had some superstition where he would only take the field for warmups when the last number of the time was a seven (or something like that). He'd wait in the dugout until then. So the Jays stadium crews rigged all the scoreboard clocks at Exhibition Stadium to stay on six for two minutes, then skip ahead to eight.

Seems like a long way to go just to annoy a guy, but couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[korme]

I was actually at a game where Van Benschotten hit a homer. looked to have a much better batting stroke than a pitching one, he got beat up IIRC.

He went to my H.S.

[korme]

I remember reading a story in the mid-80s about a "prank" the Blue Jays pulled on Wade Boggs. Apparently he had some superstition where he would only take the field for warmups when the last number of the time was a seven (or something like that). He'd wait in the dugout until then. So the Jays stadium crews rigged all the scoreboard clocks at Exhibition Stadium to stay on six for two minutes, then skip ahead to eight.

Seems like a long way to go just to annoy a guy, but couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Yeah but if you think that through that's hilarious

[DanGarion]

Then there was that thread that all the Pirate fans took over and single-handedly killed...

There are actually Pirate fans?

[SirFozzie]

We have a new candidate for Prank of the Year:

Strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss experienced the agony and the ecstasy of life with the Cubs in a few short hours Tuesday. When the Cubs began practice in the morning, Aramis Ramirez pointed to a wrecked '95 Nissan Sentra near the Cubs bullpen and asked: "Hey 'Bussy,' what's your car doing on the ramp?" Buss looked over at the wreck and replied: "That's not my car." But then Buss did a double take. "Dude," he said to Ramirez. "That's my car!" Buss soon discovered his car was demolished beyond recognition, but this was no ordinary crime. The car windows all had been smashed in, the front, back and sides all were severely dented and the smoking guns -- a couple of baseball bats and balls -- were strategically placed in the windshield. After the workout ended, Dempster told Buss to "quit pouting" and come with him to the weight room to "see something." As they walked out the back door, Buss saw several players and a 2008 Nissan Xterra parked in the walkway. Ryan Dempster gave him the keys for the new SUV, valued at about $25,000.

[Young Drachma]

That's too cool.

[MacroGuru]

We have a new candidate for Prank of the Year:

Strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss experienced the agony and the ecstasy of life with the Cubs in a few short hours Tuesday. When the Cubs began practice in the morning, Aramis Ramirez pointed to a wrecked '95 Nissan Sentra near the Cubs bullpen and asked: "Hey 'Bussy,' what's your car doing on the ramp?" Buss looked over at the wreck and replied: "That's not my car." But then Buss did a double take. "Dude," he said to Ramirez. "That's my car!" Buss soon discovered his car was demolished beyond recognition, but this was no ordinary crime. The car windows all had been smashed in, the front, back and sides all were severely dented and the smoking guns -- a couple of baseball bats and balls -- were strategically placed in the windshield. After the workout ended, Dempster told Buss to "quit pouting" and come with him to the weight room to "see something." As they walked out the back door, Buss saw several players and a 2008 Nissan Xterra parked in the walkway. Ryan Dempster gave him the keys for the new SUV, valued at about $25,000.


This is a bribe....this new SUV....its our way of saying please don't say anything...your old car....is you, if you say something.....

[MacroGuru]

Dola...although, that is pretty killer....they get props for taking care of the guy.