Brian Wilson's Beard and the 10 Most Famous MLB Gimmicks

Baseball is a game of tradition. Not much has changed since its creation, and it feels like it will remain the same for a long time.

Baseball is also a game of gimmicks. From the days of Bill Veeck to the infamous ten-cent beer night, the game has had its share of interesting creations. Nowadays, these seem to come from the players themselves, and at times these gimmicks can take on a life of their own.

Here are 10 of the most famous MLB gimmicks right now. While a laundry list could be made of historical gimmicks, that's something for another day.

10. CC Sabathia's Cap

This is a minor one, and after joining the Yankees it seems less noticeable, but fans of the Indians and Brewers remember that CC Sabathia always seemed to have his cap askew when pitching.

He even got the nickname "Crooked Cap Sabathia" thanks to how he wore it. Of course, as long as he pitches the way he does, people are fine with the gimmick.

9. Daisuke Matsuzaka's Gyroball

This has fallen by the wayside somewhat, but when Dice-K first made his debut for the Boston Red Sox, people were excited to see his gyroball, a pitch with no real movement until the very end.

His changeup is rather similar to it, but it's definitely not something he's going out of his way to throw, and the gimmick of the pitch has become more of a gimmick of fans hoping to see it.

8. The Wild Card Playoff

How could this be a gimmick if it has not officially happened yet? Starting in 2012, there will be two wild-card teams in each conference competing in one game before the playoffs really begin.

To answer the above question, it's precisely the definition of a gimmick. It's to increase revenue and get more teams involved, but it also keeps people talking.

After all, I'm talking about it right now.

7. Jose Valverde's Scream

You certainly are not going to find a guy who wears his emotions more clearly on the mound than Jose Valverde. In his career in Houston, and especially in Detroit, he has celebrated outs by erupting in a scream.

Whether it's a gimmick or just a way for him to release his energy, I find it to be a great sight to watch, even if others find it unprofessional.

6. All You Can Eat Seats

All You Can Eat Seats are a relatively recent development which has picked up steam thanks to a down economy and crazy prices at the vendors.

Despite its gimmick status, what's more traditional than watching a baseball game while stuffing your face with hot dogs and the like, while saving money in the process?

5. The Designated Hitter

The DH position has been around since 1973, and while it is old, many old-school baseball purists will say it's nothing more than a gimmick to add in hitting.

I don't necessarily buy into that, but it certainly is one, given that only the American League ever adopted it.

4. Sausage Races

Many teams have races in between innings already to add a little bit of flavor while teams are preparing themselves. The Milwaukee Brewers, however, take this to another level.

The Brewers allow various sausages to race at the bottom of the sixth inning in each Brewers' home game, and the end result is one of the more well-known events to happen during a baseball game that don't directly affect what's on the field.

3. Ichiro Suzuki's Stance

It you asked a casual baseball fan to name one batting stance, most people's minds would go to Ichiro Suzuki. His bat windup is not something that is seen anywhere else.

It may be a gimmick, but given his career batting average, it's one that works, and seeing him getting ready to hit is perhaps more fun than him actually getting the hit.

2. Brian Wilson's Beard

When's the last time a part of someone took on a life of its own in MLB? Combine that with his eccentricities and you have yourself a great gimmick.

Wilson has been growing the beard since 2010, and has shown no signs of slowing down, even taking the beard on tour last offseason after the Giants won the World Series.

1. Moneyball

As famous as Brian Wilson's beard may be, how many other gimmicks have had movies made of them? Moneyball's use of sabermetrics was, during 2003 when the original book came out, revolutionary and has since sparked copycats on other teams.

Whether you buy into the success of moneyball or not, it is a gimmick at heart, and one that even non-baseball fans now know. Brad Pitt has that kind of pull.