Baseball's Top 10 Home Run Hazing Videos

Manny Machado, one of the Baltimore Orioles' best prospects, split the 2011 season between the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and the High-A Frederick Keys.

In his Keys debut, Machado homered in his second at-bat. He's not quite sure what's going on when he returns to the dugout, where nobody acknowledges his presence before finally celebrating with the 18-year-old.

May 6, 2012: Albert Pujols Hits His First Home Run as an Angel

Not even the best players in the game are spared from hazing, especially when they join a new team.

Such is the case with Albert Pujols, the three-time National League MVP and owner of 445 home runs as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, who struggled mightily through the first month of the season without going deep.

So when he stepped to the plate against Toronto's Drew Hutchinson with Mike Trout on second base, two out and the Angels holding a 2-1 lead, the explosion of the ball off Pujols' bat failed to match the explosion from the stands, where Angels' fans rejoiced that Pujols had finally gotten off the schneid.

As Pujols crossed home plate and began walking towards the Angels' dugout, he found it completely empty, courtesy of Angels right fielder Torii Hunter, who admitted he was behind the prank after the game, which the Angels won 4-3:

"

I thought that would be cool. I always wanted to do that, and it worked. I just said: 'Let's get off the bench and go to the tunnel.' He was excited about it and we were, too. We had to think fast. When I have a day off, man, I do stupid stuff.

"

While Pujols told reporters after the game that finally getting his first home run as an Angel didn't lift anything off of his shoulders, the numbers tell a different story. In the 44 games since, Pujols has looked more like himself, hitting .300/.367/.529 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI.

May 13, 2010: Luke Scott's Grand Slam Caps a Remarkable Comeback

Up 5-1 heading into the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners reliever Brandon League gave up five runs in the bottom half of the inning—a solo shot by Corey Patterson and a grand slam by Luke Scott. Alfredo Simon would close it out for the O's in the top of the ninth to secure the win.

As Scott lulls us all to sleep during his postgame interview, talking about humidity and air temperature, Orioles' reliever Will Ohman trots through the empty dugout and gently places a shaving cream pie square in his face. The Oriole Bird pays a quick visit, and for the next minute, Scott debates whether he should wipe himself off, growing more and more uncomfortable before finally wiping off his eyes.

April 20, 2010: Nate McLouth Wins It in Extra Innings for the Braves

After falling behind 3-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves mounted a tremendous comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring three runs with two outs on back-to-back home runs by Troy Glaus, a two-run shot, and Jason Heyward to tie the game at three.

When Nate McLouth stepped to the plate against Jose Contreras to start the 10th inning, he took the reliever's fifth pitch of the at-bat deep down the right field line for a game-winning home run, which you can see here.

If you don't want to see the highlights from the game, skip ahead to around the 1:15 mark, where you'll see McLouth end the game. As he rounds first base, the entire Braves' dugout is headed for the clubhouse, and by the time he crosses home plate, there isn't a soul in sight.

September 8, 2009: Nick Swisher Goes Yard in the Bottom of the Ninth

After blowing a 2-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Rays by serving up solo home runs to Jason Bartlett and Evan Longoria in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, the New York Yankees found the game tied with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Nick Swisher took advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, sending the second pitch of the at-bat against Rays' reliever Dan Wheeler over the wall and winning the game for the Yankees, 3-2.

As Swisher conducted his postgame interview, Yankees' pitcher A.J. Burnett came up behind him and smashed an overflowing shaving cream pie not only into his face, but he basically covered Swisher's entire head with it.

Not only does Swisher love the fact that he just took a pie to the face, he refuses to clean himself off, finishing the interview covered in shaving cream.

September 20, 2010: Will Rhymes Bides His Time for His First Career Home Run

Do you think Will Rhymes will ever forget this night?

His first career home run came off of the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals, and stood as the game-winning hit in a 7-5 Tigers victory.

But it wasn't originally ruled a home run.

His drive bounced off the top of the wall, but was originally ruled a triple on the field. As Rhymes stood on third base, the umpires left the field to watch the video replay. Around the 1:30 mark of the video, which you can see here, the umpires emerge and correct their call, ruling it a home run.

When Rhymes returned to the dugout, nobody said a word until he walked past roughly half of the team, at which point the Tigers exploded off of the bench and mobbed their teammate.

June 12, 2012: Madison Bumgarner Hits His First Career Home Run

One of 10 National League pitchers with at least nine wins on the season—a list that includes his teammate Matt Cain—San Francisco Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner flashes his power at the plate in batting practice on a regular basis.

But it wasn't until he stepped to the plate against Houston's Bud Norris with the Giants trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the 156th plate appearance of his four-year career, that he finally went deep when it counted, tying the game at 1-1.

When he arrived back in the dugout, the rest of team, coaches and trainers included, didn't acknowledge his presence until Pablo Sandoval rushes him to start the celebration.

You can see video of the home run and his teammates' reaction here.

The Giants would go on to win the game 6-3 behind a phenomenal performance by Bumgarner, who went nearly eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and a walk while striking out 12.

July 22, 2011: John Lannan Helps His Own Cause

In the bottom of the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda, Washington Nationals pitcher John Lannan stepped into the batter's box with Ian Desmond on first base and one out.

Shaming his fellow pitcher, Lannan took Kuroda over the right field wall for a two-run home run, giving the Nationals an early 3-0 lead.

Lannan knew what was awaiting him as he returned to the dugout, video of which you can see here. As Jayson Werth tried not to laugh, the Nationals gave Lannan a brief but effective silent treatment.

September 9, 2009: Ramiro Pena's First Career Home Run

With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning in a tie game against the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees' light-hitting utility infielder Ramiro Peña stepped to the plate against the Royals' Luke Hochevar.

Peña took Hochevar over the right field wall, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead on the first home run of his career. Obviously elated, every Yankee except manager Joe Girardi followed the instruction of Alex Rodriguez and gave the rookie something not often heard in New York—complete silence. You can see the video here.

August 5, 2011: Manny Machado's Minor League Snub

Manny Machado, one of the Baltimore Orioles' best prospects, split the 2011 season between the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and the High-A Frederick Keys.

In his Keys debut, Machado homered in his second at-bat. He's not quite sure what's going on when he returns to the dugout, where nobody acknowledges his presence before finally celebrating with the 18-year-old.

2008: Wally Backman Hazes His Own Player

*Backman has a colorful vocabulary, and his clips are not suitable for work or children.*

The South Georgia Peanuts were an independent baseball team that was only in existence for the 2007 season, but what a memorable season it was—largely due to their boisterous manager, former major league infielder Wally Backman.

Backman, who famously had one of the most entertaining and profane manager meltdowns in baseball history, was wearing a microphone as well when one of his players, Johnny Washington, hit a home run.

As Washington crosses home plate, you can hear Backman tell the dugout "silent treatment, silent treatment." Washington is clearly elated, making the prank all the more effective when nobody says a word to him until Backman breaks the silence.