Top 25 Strangest Occurrences of MLB 2012 Season

With the conclusion of the 2012 MLB season just a month behind us, it's about that time when all serious fans begin entering that annual November-December depression, as reality sets in that baseball is over.

They know from years of prior experience that the only true remedy for their no-baseball blues will be the beginning of the 2013 season. Yet, still they endlessly search through countless cable channels, looking for a baseball game to watch—any baseball game.

Unfortunately, they're well aware that they'll only find a periodic classic game rerun on the MLB Network or ESPN.

So until next season begins, we'll have to relish the wonderful memories—like the San Francisco Giants dominating the 2012 World Series and claiming their second title in three years.

Now that all the individual awards have been handed out to their deserving recipients, let's close this electrifying season with a look back at Major League Baseball's Top 25 most unusual occurrences of 2012.

Please Note: Videos of each play are available on MLB.com. Bleacher Report and MLB.com are not partners so I could not embed the video into the slideshow; instead, I linked each video under the slideshow descriptions.

25. The Next Triple Crown Winner Would Like to Order a New Batter's Box

It was very early in the 2012 season, and the future MVP and Triple Crown Winner hadn't even begun separating himself from the rest of the pack.

But you can't say that Mr. MVP-to-be didn't know where the batter's box was supposed to be.

As Miguel Cabrera took his stance in the box in the first inning of a game in Chicago, his back foot was positioned outside the box, and White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski took exception to it.

In the end, Cabrera won the debate, and the umpiring crew required the U.S. Cellular Field grounds crew to come out and re-chalk the batter's box correctly.

Watch Video Here.

Here is a parody version from vimeo.com.

24. World's Largest Paper Airplane Cleared for Landing

This was not your everyday schoolboy paper airplane.

In fact, if the Guinness Book of World Records were in the house for this game in Milwaukee between the New York Mets and Brewers, they might have deemed it the biggest paper airplane in history.

The exact flight path of this mammoth paper 747 was not known, but according to TV announcers, it made its approach from high in the upper deck and landed gracefully next to second base.

Even Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy was impressed and gave it his own ovation.

Watch Video Here

23. The First "Out Field Fly Rule" in History

It was a historical game in Major League Baseball, the first ever Wild Card game. Not only was it the first ever Wild Card game, but it was also the first time in memory that fly ball into the outfield became an infield fly rule, creating one of the most controversial calls in MLB history. The infield fly rule does not happen often, but the rule is there because once in a while it will be needed.

With the Braves down by three runs to the Cardinals in the bottom of the 8^th inning, Braves faithful were praying for a rally. And with runners on first and second and one out, it appeared as though their prayers had been answered when their shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, hit a high fly ball into shallow left field that dropped between Pete Kozma and Matt Holliday. The initial reaction of the fans was elation as everyone was sure the Braves had the bases loaded with only one out, it was just what they needed to get them back in the game. It was until moments later when it was revealed that Simmons was called out because left field umpire, Sam Holbrook, had called the infield fly rule on a ball that was no where near the infield. Braves' manager Fredi Gonzalez argued the call, but it fell on deaf ears. In the end, Braves fans took it upon themselves to show their displeasure by littering the field with garbage and delaying the game for 19 minutes.

Watch Video Here

22. Marco the Savior

Any Giants fan will agree that, without the acquisition of Marco Scutaro in late July, San Francisco probably would not have won the 2012 World Series.

Scutaro's contribution to the team was enormous and has apparently set his stock on fire, in what should be the waning days of the 37-year-old’s career.

On this particular day, about a month after Scutaro joined the Giants, he did something that has never really been explained. Early in a game in Houston, Scutaro was seen on TV wearing the correct jersey top, which read San Francisco across the top.

Later in the game, he was spotted wearing an incorrect jersey top, which had the SF logo under his left shoulder.

And finally, even later in the game, he was again spotted wearing the original San Francisco jersey.

The only logical reason I can come up with was a jersey malfunction that caused him to have to switch mid-game.

Watch Video Here.

21. Hey Bauer, That's the Wrong Dugout

What can you say? The kid was nervous, and isn't that a prerequisite for your first MLB start?

Arizona Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Trevor Bauer had just thrown the first pitch of his Major League career to Atlanta Braves star center fielder Michael Bourn. It was a sizzling fastball at 93 mph, right down the heart of the plate.

As is customary after the first pitch of any player's career, Bauer threw the ball back in so he could keep it (to send it to the Hall Of Fame in case he has an HOF career).

But instead of throwing the ball into the D-Backs' dugout, Bauer mistakenly threw it to the Braves' dugout.

The expression on Manager Kirk Gibson's face tells it all.

Watch Video Here.

20. Curtis the Headhunter

This was a truly bizarre play.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chad Jenkins delivered a pitch to New York Yankees slugger Curtis Granderson, who returned a line drive that Jenkins snagged as it nearly took his head off.

The velocity of the batted ball tore Jenkins' glove right off his hand and flew three feet into the air above him. The ball remained in the glove and Jenkins caught the glove/ball combination, recording the third out of the inning.

Jenkins was very lucky to get a glove on the ball in a season where other pitchers weren't so lucky.

Oakland A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy took a ball to the head in early September, which landed him in the hospital for two hours of surgery and ended his season. Likewise, Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister took a line drive to the head in Game 2 of the World Series but did not suffer any repercussions and stayed in the game.

Watch Video Here.

19. Brendan Ryan Headhunts His Own Teammates

It's fairly unusual for an MLB player to lose his grip on his bat as he swings, but it does happen from time to time.

Seattle Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan did it twice on consecutive pitches in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Usually the guilty batter seems to have an axe to grind with the fans in the stands, but in both instances here, Ryan had his sights set on taking out a teammate or two in his own dugout.

Watch Video Here.

18. Johan Santana's "Not so Perfect" No-Hitter

There's no denying Johan Santana pitched the game of his life on June 1, 2012, giving the New York Mets franchise their first ever no-hitter.

But the reality is, just as Armando Galarraga should have had a perfect game in 2011—which was taken away by a bad officiating call—Johan Santana's no-hitter never should have been.

In the sixth inning, St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Carlos Beltran hit a scorching line drive down the third baseline, that, upon video review clearly hit chalk and should have been a fair ball. But human error reared its ugly head again, and third-base umpire Adrian Johnson ruled it a foul ball, taking a sure double away from Beltran and keeping the no-hitter intact.

Watch Video Here.

17. Jeff Francoeur Buys Some Love

There's nothing like bribing the opposing fans to win over their affections.

And Kansas City Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur sure didn't see any shame in it.

On a Bacon Tuesday road game in Oakland against the A's, Francoeur blessed the fans in the right field bleacher seats with Round Table pizzas and a bat signed by him that read, “To the right field bleacher crew, keep making bacon, Jeff Francoeur.”

My question is which of the Bacon Tuesday bleacher fans got to keep the bat?

Watch Video Here.

16. Dear Bryce, Take It Easy Kid, It's Gonna Be a Long Career

Baseball life can get intense when you're a 19-year-old rookie phenom with the weight of a franchise resting on your shoulders.

If there's one thing I like about Bryce Harper, it's his intensity. I've never seen the kid play at anything less than 110 percent, and I'm sure 10 years from now, when he's well on his way to a Hall of Fame career, he'll still be playing with that intensity.

It was May 11 and, entering the game, Bryce was only 38 at-bats into his young career. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Harper took his position in right field with blood dripping down his left cheek, it appeared as though someone had cold-cocked him.

As the story goes, Bryce was so upset about going hitless in the game that he took a bat into the tunnel and took his frustrations out on a wall.

Apparently the wall fought back.

The bat bounced off the wall and hit Bryce above his left eye, requiring 10 stitches and a repaired ego.

Watch Video Here.

15. What in the World Was Aroldis Chapman Thinking?

He's the man with a fastball like no one in the history of Major League Baseball, nor anywhere on planet Earth.

Even the great Nolan Ryan has to be impressed when he hits 105 mph on the radar gun.

But what Nolan and all other MLB players (past and present) were not impressed with was when Aroldis Chapman blew a 99-mph shoulder-high fastball by Martin Maldonado of the Milwaukee Brewers for the final out of a game, then proceeded to celebrate with two somersaults between the pitcher's mound and home plate.

We all have lapses of judgment, and I'm confident Chapman got an earful from Dusty Baker and will never make that mistake again.

Watch Video Here.

14. Ichiro's Disappearing Ball Trick

Consider it part of chaos theory and nothing more than a fluke, but a bizarre one, nonetheless.

In a September game in New York, the A's were playing the Yankees. In his career, Ichiro had hit in just about every conceivable way, but this one was unique, even to the Great Ichiro.

Batting against A's starting pitcher Jarrod Parker, Ichiro hit a crisp ground ball back to Parker that appeared to be routine. That is, until Parker could not produce the ball to throw to first base.

It had found its way into Parker's jersey, allowing the speedy Ichiro to easily turn it into just another of his 450-plus career infield hits.

Watch Video Here.

13. The Dodgers Did It First

It's hard to believe that after 140 years and over 200,000 games played in professional baseball history, the 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers were the first team ever to turn a 2-5-6-3 triple play.

And it was anything but normal.

It can definitely be said that it was somewhat of a fluke that the Dodgers turned this unique triple play: San Diego Padres batter Jesus Guzman had squared around to bunt, and the pitched ball was so inside that it had nearly drilled him in the chest.

He was somehow able to back away from the plate and get the bat—instead of his chest—on the ball. The home plate umpire initially signaled a foul ball, but it was then ruled fair.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis scooped up the ball from home plate and fired it to the third baseman, who sent it to the shortstop (covering second base), who then threw it to first for the triple play.

The Padres disputed the fact that it was initially called foul and none of the baserunners ran, but it fell on deaf ears and the Dodgers completed the easy (and unique) triple play.

Watch Video Here

12. One Blue Will Do

In the early years of professional baseball many games were called with only one umpire, typically wearing a blue uniform. Hence the nickname “Blue,” although the term is not as common as it once was, especially at the MLB level.

After a seven-minute rain delay at the top of the first inning of a game in Washington against the San Diego Padres, home plate umpire Brian Gorman signaled Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg to resume pitching.

What Gorman (or anyone else) didn't realize was that none of the other three base umpires were at their respective bases. Finally, they came jogging out of the third base dugout. Gorman called time before the pitch was delivered so his brethren could take their positions on the field.

Watch Video Here.

11. Jered Weaver's Karaoke Debut in Arlington

Tiger Woods once said, “If you can't laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at?”

Apparently Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ace Jered Weaver heard this statement and took it to heart.

After allowing eight runs in only three and one-third innings of work during a game in Texas, the Rangers played the famous Ray Charles song “Hit the Road Jack” over the public address system.

In a classic display of laughing at oneself, Weaver sang along with the song as he made the long and lonely walk from the pitcher's mound to the Angels dugout.

Watch Video Here.

10. Hey Mark, What Are You Trying to Say?

Mark Grace was a great player during his 16-year career with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks, but is it possible that he's an even better TV announcer?

Either way, one thing Grace definitely is, is being quick on his feet.

During an afternoon game between the Diamondbacks and Mets, Fox Sports Arizona experienced technical difficulties and lost their audio signal. Grace was not even fazed by the unexpected dilemma and quickly jumped into action.

He used the FOX telestrator to write "WE DON'T HAVE AUDIO :(" on the screen so the viewing audience knew why everything was so quiet.

Watch Video Here.

9. Brian Dozier Knows English When He Sees It

Years ago, I watched a fair amount of pool/billiards on ESPN and was always amazed at the amount of English professional pool players could put on a cue ball.

And not just pool, but ping pong players, too.

When I think of putting English on a ball, baseball is not a sport that typically comes to mind. But it can happen.

Just ask Minnesota Twins shortstop Brian Dozier how he put the spin on a baseball, and he'd probably tell you he has no idea how he did it.

During a game against the Royals, Dozier took an inside pitch and fouled it off just outside the batter's box on the first base side. To his credit, Dozier immediately recognized that the ball had an extremely funky spin to it. He didn't wait around to see what would happen, he was instantly on his horse.

The ball started about three feet foul, but its rapid spin pulled it back into fair territory. By the time the Royals catcher got a read on the ball and made a play at first, Dozier had legged out an infield single and gotten an RBI out of it.

The hardest part for me to understand is not the spin but, considering Dozier is a right-handed batter, how the English on the ball brought it back into fair territory and didn't push it further as a foul.

It appears to have defied the laws of physics.

Watch Video Here.

8. Cole Hamels Spots Matt Cain a Home Run, Then Matches It

Giants pitcher Matt Cain thought he had bragging rights on Cole Hamels when, in the third inning of a game in Philadelphia, he took the third pitch from Hamels deep down the left field line for a home run.

But in the bottom of the same inning, Hamels, not wanting to be outdone, took the first pitch from Cain and delivered a “no doubter” even deeper into the right field bleachers.

It was the first time since 1990 that two pitchers had homered off each other in the same inning.

Watch Video Here.

7. Tim McCarver Loves Barry Manilow Concerts

In the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series, Barry Zito collected a very improbable RBI single off Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander. The hit had to be extremely gratifying for Zito, who wasn't even on the Giants roster for the 2010 World Series run and has been under a microscope of scrutiny since landing in San Francisco in 2007.

Giants fans were so happy with Zito's hit off fire-baller Verlander that they began chanting “Barry, Barry.”

Fox commentator Tim McCarver commented, “That's a sound he has not heard in this park too often...the sound of 'Barry, Barry.'”

Joe Buck then followed up by saying, “They used to say it for somebody else around here.”

And in all his infinite wisdom, McCarver replied, “When Barry Manilow was playing in a concert...” The old media philosophy is that when your partner makes a mistake, you never correct him.

But Buck couldn't help himself and rightfully corrected McCarver's absurd slight on former Giants' slugger Barry Bonds.

Watch Video Here.

6. The Thunder Rolls in Arlington

If you were at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on this July-day game against the Minnesota Twins, you probably thought a bomb had gone off.

If you were a player on the field, your first instinct was likely that it was the end of the world.

Most people will never get the opportunity to be in the middle of a true southern thunder storm, but on that day, lightning and a thunderclap like no other rocked the Rangers Ballpark, sending players and umpires scurrying into the dugouts.

Fox Sports Southwest television announcers verbalized their surprise, and video coverage showed just how much the fierce jolt rocked the stadium.

Watch Video Here.

5. Mark Grace, Psychic Extraordinaire

You'd think it would be an active player who'd have two appearances on MLB's Top 25 Most Unusual, but it's not.

It's retired All-Star Mark Grace making his second appearance.

At any level of baseball, having the feeling that someone is about to homer is fairly common, and within the privacy of a team dugout, players often try to predict their teammates' homers.

But by the law of averages, they are rarely correct.

Call it a premonition, call it a prediction or just call it dumb luck. But for whatever reason, FOX announcer Mark Grace had that feeling and called Jason Kubel's home run, on national television, a full two seconds before it actually happened.

Calling someone's shot is one thing, but to actually say it on live television, while millions of people are watching, is an entirely different thing.

Watch Video Here.

4. FOX Practicing Safe Audio Recording

Weather forecasters expected significant rain in St. Louis for Game 3 of the 2012 NLCS between the San Francisco Giants and Cardinals.

And no one can ever say the Emmy-Winning FOX Sports Audio Team wasn't ready for some H2O. The challenge to FOX was to capture all the crucial sound bites of the pivotal game and also protect their expensive audio equipment from water damage.

It's not apparent which FOX employee was the brainchild of this master plan, but it worked to perfection: The FOX Audio team used many microphones around the stadium to capture all the sounds of the game...and to protect their valuable hardware, they wrapped each microphone in a Trojan Condom.

All 60 of them.

Watch Video Here

3. Hey, Frazier, Just Throw Your Bat at It

Call it brute strength or one in a million, but Cincinnati Reds rookie Todd Frazier hit a home run that was truly one of a kind.

At the moment of contact, the right-handed batting Frazier had starting losing his grip on the bat—his right hand was completely off the bat, while his left hand was barely touching it. As would be expected, the bat ended up flying out next to the pitcher's mound.

Frazier could very possibly be the first player in Major League history to hit a home run by literally throwing his bat at the ball. And if you're thinking Frazier just used his bat to redirect a high-velocity pitch, think again.

(It was only an off-speed pitch at 72 mph, delivered by 49-year-old Jamie Moyer.)

Watch Video Here

2. Michael Morse and the Phantom Grand Slam

It appears as though the baseball circus was in town for this game between the Nationals and Cardinals in September.

With the bases loaded, Nationals left fielder Michael Morse drove a pitch low and away to the opposite field. The ball ended up back on the playing field, and none of the umpires were sure whether the ball hit the top of the fence or went over it.

Unsure himself, Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran quickly got the ball back into the infield, where no one knew what was going on.

Every base runner had a dazed and confused look, not knowing where to go. Morse thought it was a grand slam and rounded first on his way to second, but Adam LaRoche was standing on second. Not sure what to do, Morse quickly retreated, sprinting back to first, where he was tagged out.

But never fear, Major League Baseball has instant replay just for these (and only these) situations.

Upon replay review, it was confirmed to be a grand slam.

And then the real confusion began.

After being tagged out, Morse had remained near first base as the play was reviewed. When the umpires confirmed it was indeed a home run, he resumed his trot around second base, where he was promptly stopped. Every runner was sent back to his original base, and Morse to home plate, where he executed a mock swing at a phantom pitch (without a bat in his hands), then took his complete victory lap around the bases.

No one was more entertained with this unbelievable Abbot and Costello “Who's On First?” act than the Nationals broadcasters, who could hardly contain their amusement.

Watch Video Here.

1. Bet You Can't Do That Again, Hunter

Possibly one of the strangest plays in the history of baseball came during a lopsided Game 7 of the 2012 NLCS between the Giants and Cardinals.

With the bases loaded, San Francisco right fielder Hunter Pence took a Kyle Lohse pitch back up the middle, and with the help of some very weird spin, it flew by St. Louis shortstop Pete Kozma.

The bizarre nature of Pence's double was not realized until FOX replayed the play several times and it was seen that the initial contact broke Pence's bat, but on the follow-through, the bat connected with the ball two more times, causing an extreme spin that fooled Kozma on its way into center field.

All three base runners scored on the play, and it was ultimately the Game 7 dagger that propelled the Giants into the World Series.

During the 2011 regular season it was documented that Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit a double in a similar fashion, where the pitched ball initially broke the bat, then hit the bat a second time on the follow through.

But Pence's double was the first time it was ever documented that a pitched ball hit a bat three times on the same swing.

Watch Video Here.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Santana's Super Human Strength

It was a normal at-bat when Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana checked his swing like thousands of players do every season.

The only difference this time was that Santana's bat snapped in his hands, sending the barrel flying down the third base line.

Anyone who has ever held a wooden bat understands that if this bat had not already been cracked, it would have been a near impossible feat.

I have to admit, like the announcers, I'm a little skeptical that the bat was already damaged goods because otherwise Santana demonstrated some incredible strength.

But it's hard to imagine a Major League player not knowing his own bat is cracked, so I guess we'll never know for sure.

Watch Video Here.