Quirkiest Baseball Failures II

Part two of Failure magazine's two-part series.

Written by Failure magazine staff   Filed under Sports

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July 16, 1990: Steve “Psycho” Lyons, a utility infielder for the Chicago White Sox, bunts the ball during a game against the Detroit Tigers and proceeds to dive headlong into first base, where he is called safe by umpire Jim Evans. Tigers pitcher Dan Petry argues the call, and Lyons, absorbed in the discussion, absent-mindedly pulls his pants down and casually brushes away the dirt that had lodged inside his uniform. The argument stops, and Lyons, realizing his blunder, flashes an I-can’t-believe-I-pulled-my-pants-down gape.

May 16, 2004: Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa suffers back spasms in the team’s clubhouse prior to a game against the San Diego Padres, the spasms brought on by a pair of violent sneezes. Ultimately the Cubs place Sosa on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his lower back.

April 26, 1962: The New York Mets acquire catcher Harry Chiti from the Cleveland Indians for cash and a “player to be named later.” After Chiti bats a mere .195 in 15 games, the Mets send him back to Cleveland, in effect making Chiti the first major league baseball player to be traded for himself.

October 30, 2003: The Tribune Company—owner of both the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the Hartford Courant newspaper—mistakenly makes the last of three deposits totaling $301,102.50 into the bank account of Courant deliveryman Mark Guthrie. The payments are intended for the other Mark Guthrie on the Tribune payroll, a relief pitcher for the Cubs.

May 27, 1991: Rodney McCray, a minor league outfielder for the Vancouver Canadians, crashes through the plywood right-field fence at Civic Stadium (Portland, Oregon) while attempting to catch a fly ball hit by Chip Hale. (Video at oregonlive.com.)

April 17, 1972: The hang gliding daredevil “Kiteman” skis down a ramp at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, intending to soar to home plate and deliver the ceremonial first ball of the Phillies’ season. Blown off course by a gust of wind, Kiteman clips a row of seats, crashes into the railing of the upper deck, and hurls the ball into the Phillies bullpen, more than 400 feet from its intended destination.

See also: Quirkiest Baseball Failures - part one. 

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