Baseball might be America’s pastime, but it’s also one of the most significant sources of weird and wonderful nicknames in sports. Over the years, players have earned some truly hilarious monikers—sometimes based on their looks, quirks, or just pure randomness.
From food references to animal comparisons, these nicknames have become as legendary as the players. Whether they were self-given or clubhouse creations, these names still bring a smile to fans’ faces.
15. Oil Can Boyd
When your nickname sounds like a cartoon character from the 1920s, you know it’s gold. Dennis Boyd embraced “Oil Can” and made it part of his legend.
14. The Flying Dutchman (Honus Wagner)
It sounds like a mythical ship or a superhero, but nope—it’s a Hall of Famer with a killer mustache. Honus didn’t exactly fly, but the nickname stuck and still makes people double-take.
13. Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval)
You don’t expect a big third baseman to be compared to an animated panda, but here we are. Sandoval wore the nickname with pride and turned it into a brand.
12. The Big Unit (Randy Johnson)
Yes, it sounds ridiculous—and that’s part of the charm. Johnson’s towering frame and serious stare made the goofy nickname even better.
11. El Caballo (Carlos Lee)
Translation: The Horse. There’s something undeniably funny about calling your slugger a farm animal and everyone being cool about it.
10. The Human Rain Delay (Mike Hargrove)
No one made adjusting gloves and routines into an art form quite like Hargrove. The nickname may have annoyed pitchers, but it’s hilarious in hindsight.
9. The Bull (Greg Luzinski)
With his stocky build and power at the plate, “The Bull” was hilarious and accurate. He charged into the batter’s box like he owned it—and honestly, he did.
8. Big Sexy (Bartolo Colon)
Bartolo owned this one like no one else could. Few pitchers could make “Big Sexy” a joke and an actual brand.
7. Spaceman (Bill Lee)
Lee was as eccentric as they come, and the nickname just fit perfectly. He leaned into the weird and made baseball more fun because of it.
6. Tony Plush (Nyjer Morgan)
Nyjer created an entire alter ego just for fun—and yes, it was as chaotic as it sounds. “Tony Plush” gave interviews and everything.
5. Catfish (Jim Hunter)
He wasn’t named after the animal, but a random story made the nickname stick. It’s so absurd that it became iconic.
4. Salty (Jarrod Saltalamacchia)
When your last name is 14 letters long, “Salty” is the only reasonable solution. It’s simple, funny, and way easier to fit on a jersey.
3. The Crime Dog (Fred McGriff)
A nod to the animated crime-fighting dog McGruff, this one is equal parts clever and hilarious. It’s the kind of nickname you wish you came up with first.
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2. The Hebrew Hammer (Ryan Braun)
It’s bold, specific, and gets a reaction. A slugger with that nickname? Instant legend status.
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1. ManRam (Manny Ramirez)
It’s short and snappy and somehow captures the complete chaos of Manny being Manny. No nickname fits a player so well and sounds like a sitcom title.
Read More: The 15 Greatest Nicknames in MLB History
