When baseball fans head out to the ballpark, many of them throw on the jersey of their favorite player. Others choose to paint their faces in the colors of their hometown team.
For one group of friends visiting Chase Field on Friday, it seemed as good a time as any to show off their love for the Flint Michigan Tropics' most exuberant player, Jackie Moon.
Moon, played by actor Will Ferrell, is the fictional basketball player/owner/coach in the movie Semi-Pro and the inspiration behind this attire.
When asked if there was something special behind their costume, the group looked at each other in silence.
“There really isn't any particular reason for us being dressed up in basketball outfits at the ballpark,” one of the men said. “If anything, I would attribute this to just having a poor choice in friends.”
Friend selection aside, the guys were a hit with everyone at the park.
-- Gabe Trujillo
Joe Maddon is no stranger to the limelight.
We aren't sure if the Rays manager has any experience with the paparazzi, but considering this impromptu photo shoot, he sure does handle the attention well.
The close-quarters photographs were taken by a fan who clearly has no sense of personal space.
These are the small prices managers pay when their teams are 10 games over .500.
Army SPC William Johanson-Kubin sat on the dugout steps prior to Friday night's Cardinals game nervous as could be. William was in town as part of FOX Sports Midwest's 'This One's For You' broadcast which honors troops and telecasts the game over the Armed Forces Network.
He was also in town for another reason: to surprise his longtime girlfriend with a marriage proposal.
Shelby Fetsch came to the ballpark thinking she was throwing out the first pitch while representing her longtime boyfriend who was serving in Afghanistan. Little did she know, she would be leaving with a ring.
It was touching moment that brought the crowd to its feet. A great way to start off Memorial Day Weekend!
A linchpin from the 1980s Cardinals stole the spotlight on Friday night.
Vince Coleman, the 1985 NL Rookie of the Year, remains a beloved figure from the Whitey Ball era. He led the Majors in steals his first three seasons, topping 100 thefts each year. Coleman's presence at the top of the order helped propel the Redbirds to pennants in 1985 and '87.
"Coming back here brings back so many memories. That is where it all started for me," said Coleman, who played 13 seasons in the bigs. "I was fortunate enough to be a part of one of the greatest teams ever assembled."
Smartly pressed in white clothes on a steamy evening, Coleman remains as cool and smooth as he was on the basepaths.
--Gabriel Kiley
Now that's just mean.
Astros bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte apparently has a deep-rooted fear of snakes.
He also apparently told his teammates about his fear. That was a mistake.
The anonymous pranksters in the Astros clubhouse decided to rig Bracamonte's bucket of batting practice baseballs with a fake snake.
His reaction is priceless. No snakes, real or replicated, were harmed during this prank.
However, Bracamonte's ego certainly was.
Jose Bautista has raised his average 35 points in the last nine games.
His power has returned, as he entered Friday with 12 home runs, which is good for sixth in the AL.
So why in the world is he trying to cool his bat down?
Truth be told, Bautista had just signed this fan's bat and was trying to dry the ink quickly.
On Thursday, Snoop Dogg threw out the ceremonial first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field before the game between the Twins and White Sox.
Now you can hear all about what the West Coast had to say about his South Side experience.
Interesting to hear that one of the game's all-time great hitters went to the same high school as Snoop.
To go with all that drama, there's apparently a great bit of talent in the L-B-C as well.
The Montreal Expos were going for it.
Sitting at .500 and with their eyes on the postseason, the Expos decided to make a deal on May 25, 1989.
So Montreal acquired southpaw Mark Langston from the Mariners for RHP Brian Holman, RHP Gene Harris and some left-handed pitcher named Randy Johnson.
The rest was history in Seattle.
The Big Unit would go 130-74 .with a 3.42 ERA and 2,162 strikeouts during his time with the Mariners.
Langston, on the other hand, bolted Canada prior to the 1990 season and landed with the Angels. As an Expo, the lefty went 12-9 with a 2.39 ERA.
The Angels seem to be coming around. Albert Pujols is heating up, Dan Haren shook off a slump with a brilliant game, and Mike Trout has been a shot in the arm for the Halos’ offense.
They’re 6 1/2 games out in the AL West and 3 1/2 back from the second Wild Card.
So we want to know:
Are the Angels, a popular preseason World Series pick, going to make the postseason even after their early-season struggles?
The nickname "LoMo" has never been more accurate than during the seventh inning Thursday night.
Giancarlo Stanton took "hit the cutoff man" a little too seriously and Logan Morrison literally had to get Lo -- and fast.
Miller High Life personality Windell Middlebrooks took a break from delivering cold brews Thursday to throw out the first pitch at Safeco Field. He also spent some time mingling with fans and hanging out with the Mariner Moose.
A moose for a mascot? Y'all must be crazy!
With so much drama in the Windy City, it's kinda hard bein' Snoop D-O-double-G.
But that didn't stop Tha Doggfather from making it out to U.S. Cellular Field to throw out Thursday’s ceremonial first pitch.
An avowed sports fan and proud southern Californian, Snoop is normally seen supporting his local L.A. teams. But with a performance not far from Chicago later Thursday night, Snoop was available to show off his arm.
"Oh, man that was special," Snoop Dogg said. "It was a strike. It was a changeup, screwball. It was one of my pitches that I normally don’t really go into, but we are in the Windy City so I had to make sure it got over the plate the right way."
Pretty cool to see Snoop fire a strike -- and Tebow after -- but imagine if Dr. Dre was catching? That’s one for the next episode.
Hey Justin, we just met you, but isn't using Call Me Maybe as your walk-up number kinda crazy?
Maybe not. Some friends dared the Mets infielder to roll with Carly Rae Jepsen's viral hit -- which has captivated baseball players everywhere -- and he's been blasting it at Citi Field ever since.
"Why wouldn't I use it?" Turner asked. "It's a great song."
Joe Smith was so thrilled to pitch during Thursday's win over the Tigers that he tried jogging in from the bullpen without ever getting the call.
Manager Manny Acta had to send Smith back to the 'pen, but not before the reliever had reached the outfield grass.
Smith spent the rest of the game behind the right-field wall, never to toe the rubber. Rejection is a bitter pill to swallow.
Meet Ben Hemmen. Ben is promotions manager, on-field emcee and vice president of questionable mustaches for the Omaha Storm Chasers -- the Royals' Triple-A affiliate and defending Pacific Coast League champs.
Now, Ben takes his job seriously and likes to dress up before running his shtick in front of 10,000 fans at Wener Park. A tuxedo seems like the appropriate move, right?
But the Storm Chasers also try to maintain a relaxed, family-friendly ballpark atmosphere. Omaha is hosting Thirsty Thursday with $1 Busch Light cans next week. So maybe a T-shirt is Ben's best bet?
As you can probably guess, Mr. Hemmen found a Ricky Bobby-approved apparel compromise for Wednesday's game against the Salt Lake Bees.
The Red Sox have a bit of a problem - a good problem, mind you, but a problem all the same.
They have too many players to fit into their corner-infield mix. Between rookie Will Middlebrooks, veteran Kevin Youkilis and star Adrian Gonzalez, it’s three players for two positions. And of course Boston’s DH spot is occupied by Big Papi.
So we want to know, what do you think they should do?
Send Middlebrooks back to the Minors?
Trade Youkilis?
Keep playing Gonzalez in the outfield?
Mix-and-match so all three stay fresh?
Or is there some other creative solution?
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) May 24, 2012
John Axford, winner of the American Mustache Institute's 2011 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award, is apparently returning to a clean-shaven look.
