MLB History: Every Team's Most Ridiculous Batting Stance Ever

Throughout the over 130-year history of MLB, there have been tens of thousands who have tried countless ways to hit a round ball with a round bat, one of the hardest things to do in professional sports.

Batters through the years have tried every angle possible to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack—through working extra hard in the batting cage, taking extra instruction, listening to advice from fans and even superstitious means.

The batting stances that hitters employ are what helps to make the game of baseball so unique. From the wide open to the closed, from the bat waggle to the toe-tapping, batting stances come in all sorts of forms.

Bleacher Report will take at some of the more unusual batting stances in the history of each franchise.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Craig Counsell

Craig Counsell first became famous in baseball when he scored the winning run in the 1997 World Series for the Florida Marlins in the 11th inning of Game 7 on an Edgar Renteria single.

Counsell was also the NLCS Most Valuable Player for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.

However, Counsell will be forever known for his very peculiar batting stance.

Counsell had a stance where he pointed the bat straight up into the air as high as he can and moved it back and forth in an erratic fashion. While batting, almost his entire back was pointed towards the pitcher, though his feet remained perpendicular with the pitcher's mound.

Atlanta Braves: Julio Franco

Without question one of the more exaggerated batting stances of the last several decades, Julio Franco's unique stance was actually tame during his stint with the Atlanta Braves compared to previous years.

Word has it that Franco is still with the Braves at 72 years of age, but there's no confirmation of that.

Well, maybe 62 years of age?

Baltimore Orioles: Mickey Tettleton

Former catcher/outfielder/designated hitter Mickey Tettleton was named after Hall of Fame player Mickey Mantle, but he was also nicknamed "Fruit Loop," because of his claim that Kellogg's Froot Loops were his source of power.

That wasn't the only strange fact about Tettleton. His batting stance was quite unique as well.

He would stand as straight as a toothpick in the batter's box, with his bat parallel to the ground. He would go into a slight crouch only when the ball was delivered.

Boston Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis

Honestly, there were a number of players who could have easily qualified for this title for the Boston Red Sox.

Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Yastrzemski, Reggie Smith and even Carl Crawford are guys who could have garnered this dubious achievement.

But Kevin Youkilis is easily the strangest. Youkilis starts off in the batter's box with his back foot in the very back of the box, and with his hands a good six to eight inches apart until he gradually brings his right hand back down to meet his left hand.

Chicago Cubs: Moises Alou

I would love to know how Moises Alou was ever able to hit 332 HR with a .303 during his 17-year major league career, three of them with the Chicago Cubs.

Because every time I watched him at the plate, it pained me to watch his bow-legged stance.

Then again, his father and two uncles ALL had unusual stances, so they certainly kept it in the family.

Chicago White Sox: Oscar Gamble

For just one season in 1977, Chicago White Sox outfielder Oscar Gamble easily qualified for the wildest hair in franchise history.

Oh yeah, the batting stance was pretty weird, too. Gamble hit the ball from a crouched stance. He claimed it helped him see the ball better and allowed him to use his hips and legs to generate power.

Cincinnati Reds: Joe Morgan

While the more modern crowd knows Joe Morgan as the analyst with Jon Miller for 20 years on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, the older crowd like myself watched Morgan and his famous chicken wing flap for 22 seasons as a player.

Morgan, a major part of the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine of the 1970s, famous flapped his back elbow twice before each swing.

Houston Astros coach Nellie Fox taught Morgan a "chicken flap" of his left elbow while taking his batting stance, to remind him to keep his elbow high.

Cleveland Indians: Rocky Colavito

Rocky Colavito was a terrific ballplayer in his time, as a nine-time All-Star with 374 lifetime home runs.

However, Colavito didn't necessarily have a notable batting stance, but had a pre-at-bat routine that defined OCD before it became fashionable.

This according to Rob in Germantown,TN, on an ESPN forum:

"

"It wasn't just the stance, but the whole ritual. Before entering the box, he would place the bat behind his neck and across his shoulders and do a stretch. Then as he took the bat from behind his neck he would cock his neck from side to side. When he began his practice swings he paused longer than usual to point his bat directly at the pitcher and then slowly moved the bat to his final cocked position just above the shoulder level."

"

Colorado Rockies: Andres Galarraga

Early in his career with the Colorado Rockies, first baseman Andres Galarraga was struggling at the plate. Manager Don Baylor intervened, suggesting that Galarraga drastically open up his stance to make him quicker on inside pitches.

The new stance also helped Galarraga drive the ball with power to the opposite field.

Galarraga's open stance also allowed him to face the pitcher with both eyes, giving him a much better view of the pitcher's delivery and when the ball left his hand.

The results drastically lowed the Big Cat's strikeout rate and turned him into a reliable power hitter with plate discipline.

Detroit Tigers: Dick McAuliffe

Dick McAuliffe, one of the most popular players ever to play for the Detroit Tigers, was a three-time All-Star and a very steady second baseman throughout his career.

At the plate, however, McAuliffe had one of stranger batting stances ever seen in baseball history.

Neil from Brecksville, Ohio described McAuliffe's batting stance in an ESPN forum: "Extreme backward lean. Lifted his foot like Mel Ott. Moved his bat faster than Joe Morgan pumped his chicken wing."

Bruce Markusen of HardballTimes.com said this about McAuliffe's stance:

"

"He used such an open stance that he practically faced the pitcher, like a left-handed version of a player of more recent vintage—former Orioles and Blue Jays third baseman Tony Batista.

As he eyed the pitcher, McAuliffe held the bat ridiculously high in the air, so high that it seemed like a caricature of a major league batting stance."

"

Houston Astros: Jeff Bagwell

Jeff Bagwell was a fabulous hitter during his 15-year career with the Houston Astros, swatting 449 home runs, 1,529 RBI and a lifetime .297 batting average.

Bagwell had a batting stance where if you put a stool underneath his backside, he could have sat down perfectly on it.

Kansas City Royals: Mike Aviles

Mike Aviles of the Kansas City Royals had a batting stance that not only looked painfully uncomfortable, but even he saw the flaws of it, abandoning it this past season.

I would break things trying that stance.

Then again, I'm a grandfather, so a lot of things break pretty easily.

Los Angeles Angels: Brian Downing

When Brian Downing was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the California Angels in December 1977, he did two things: underwent a rigorous weight training program and dramatically altered his batting stance.

Downing had one of the most open batting stances in modern baseball, and it was largely effective, especially for the Angels in the 1980s.

Downing was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2009.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Nomar Garciaparra

For 14 seasons, Nomar Garciaparra drove fans crazy with his unstrapping and re-strapping of gloves, his toe-tapping with each swing, and touching the brim of the helmet.

However, like the old adage says: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Considering Garciaparra's career batting average of .313 and back-to-back batting titles in 1999 and 2000, there was no reason for him to ever change.

Aside from the fact that he just couldn't stay healthy, that is.

Miami Marlins: Craig Counsell

Yes, we know Craig Counsell made this list twice, but can you ever remember anyone who carried the bat that high?

Counsell's stance was even more pronounced in his early years with the Marlins.

Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun

We could have named Craig Counsell for the Brewers as well, but by the time he got there, he was simply too old to keep carrying the bat that high.

Ryan Braun currently has a lot more to worry about than his batting stance.

Minnesota Twins: Rod Carew

Hall of Fame second baseman/first baseman Rod Carew authored a book titled Rod Carew's Art and Science of Hitting, and certainly no one would argue the fact Carew was one of the finest hitters who ever lived.

However, when looking at his stance, one might think differently.

New York Mets: Darryl Strawberry

When Darryl Strawberry first broke into the majors with the New York Mets, he was a highly-touted prospect with the ability to hit the ball a VERY long way.

Strawberry did in fact hit 335 home runs during his 17-year career, but he was also famous for his many off-field distractions, as well.

Strawberry's stance was unique in that he would often kick his front leg higher than the pitcher's during their delivery.

New York Yankees: Rickey Henderson

During Rickey Henderson's fabulous 25-year career, he scored more runs, stole more bases and hit more leadoff home runs than anyone in the history of baseball.

Henderson also had one of the most pronounced crouches in baseball history, which drastically reduced his strike zone and led to 2,190 walks, second on the all-time list.

Oakland Athletics: Carney Lansford

Carney Lansford was the third baseman for the Oakland Athletics during their glory days of the late '80s, and also won a batting title with the Boston Red Sox in the strike-shortened season of 1981.

However, Lansford's batting stance was a sight to behold. Here is what Graham from Carlsbad, CA had to say about Lansford's stance in an ESPN forum: "Head poking out like a grizzled turtle, his whole body twitching like he was anxious to get the seeing-eye single over with."

Philadelphia Phillies: Richie Hebner

Richie Hebner, a third baseman during his 18-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers, hit 203 home runs with a lifetime .276 batting average.

Hebner was the third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates when they won the World Series in 1971.

Hebner had an unusual batting stance in which he crouched very low and kept his hands down below his knees, almost at ankle level.

Hebner may be the only player I have ever seen that would hit the ball with his hands below his knees.

Interestingly, Hebner appeared in the National League Championship Series eight times, but won it only once (Pittsburgh, 1971).

Pittsburgh Pirates: Brian Giles

Brian Giles, who retired in 2009 with the San Diego Padres, had an open stance from the left side almost similar to that of Brian Downing.

A two-time All-Star during his 15-year career, Giles started with his lead foot all the way to the extreme right side of the batter's box, gradually working its way back in during the pitcher's delivery.

San Diego Padres: Phil Plantier

When Phil Plantier first came up with Boston Red Sox in 1990, he had a more pronounced crouch/sitting position than even Jeff Bagwell.

Plantier would later straighten up a bit more, and had one excellent season with the San Diego Padres, hitting 34 homers with 100 RBI in 1993.

Now, as the Padres hitting coach, Plantier gets to teach the young Padres hitters his "great" batting stance.

San Francisco Giants: Met Ott

Nicknamed Master Melvin, Mel Ott of the New York Giants hit 511 home runs during his career, good for 23rd on the all-time list.

Ott led the NL in home runs six times during his career, and also led the NL in free passes six times as well.

Ott was known for bringing the bat down to his waist and using a very high leg kick before each pitch.

Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki

In just 11 seasons, Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki has already captured the all-time hits record for the Mariners, surpassing Edgar Martinez in April.

Ichiro collected 200 hits in a season for 10 consecutive seasons, and he did it with what can only be called an usual pre-at-bat routine.

Ichiro's pre-at-bat routine has been the subject of conversation in Seattle ever since he made his debut, and even sparked the attached video commercial spoofing his famous routine.

St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial

Stan Musial was without a doubt one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. Musial is third all-time with 3,630 hits, a lifetime .331 batting average, 475 career home runs and was selected to the National League All-Star team 20 times.

When Stan Musial went into his batting stance, he would contort himself so that his torso was actually facing the catcher and the pitcher could see his jersey number (No. 6) almost facing him.

Musial had what was called a "peekaboo" stance, as he would peer at the pitcher over his front (right) shoulder.

It seemed to work well enough for 22 seasons.

Tampa Bay Rays: Carl Crawford

Even though former Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Carl Crawford took his pronounced batting stance to Boston for seven years and $142 million, he still qualifies as the most unusual batting stance for the Rays.

Crawford's stance may be even more pronounced and open now with the Sox.

Texas Rangers: Julio Franco

Julio Franco definitely deserves another mention on this list with the Texas Rangers.

Well, he played for eight teams overall, but that would have been just plain overkill.

Toronto Blue Jays: Tony Batista

During the 12-year career of infielder Tony Batista, he was known for what was without question the most open batting stance in Major League history.

At one point during his career, Batista would line up with both his feet facing the pitcher, and the pitcher could clearly see the letters on Batista's chest.

Washington Nationals: Adam LaRoche

Ugly would be the only way to describe the batting stance of Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche.

With LaRoche's straight-up stance and entire torso pointing toward right field, he makes it pretty obvious exactly where he plans on hitting the ball.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.