Baseball has always been a sport full of colorful characters, and the nicknames players earn often reflect just how quirky the game can get. From animal references to phrases that sound like inside jokes gone public, MLB history is packed with some truly head-scratching monikers.
Some nicknames are cool. Others are intimidating. And then there’s this list, where you’ll find the weirdest, most bizarre, and inexplicable nicknames that ever made it into a broadcast booth. Let’s count down the 15 strangest nicknames in MLB history.
15. The Human Rain Delay
No, this isn’t about the weather. This nickname was given to players like Mike Hargrove, who took so long between pitches that you could grow a beard waiting for the next one.
14. Death to Flying Things
This 19th-century nickname belonged to Bob Ferguson, and yes, that’s what they called him. While the name didn’t stick until after his playing career ended, it sounds more like a Marvel villain than a baseball player.
13. Oil Can
Dennis Boyd didn’t just pitch—he pitched with swagger and a nickname that made everyone ask, “Wait, what kind of can?” Apparently, “Oil Can” was Mississippi slang for beer.
12. The Mad Hungarian
Al Hrabosky earned this nickname for his intense mound presence and wild facial hair. He looked and acted like he was casting spells instead of throwing fastballs.
11. Gator
Mark Fidrych had “Bird,” so why not “Gator” for Ron Guidry? It wasn’t because of his bite, though—it came from a childhood resemblance to a cartoon character.
10. The Big Donkey
Adam Dunn was massive and could mash homers with the best of them. But this nickname made him sound like a stubborn cartoon mule instead of a slugging power hitter.
9. The Splendid Splinter
Ted Williams is one of the greatest hitters ever, but that doesn’t make this nickname any less weird. It sounds like something you’d get from a woodworking accident.
8. Boog
John “Boog” Powell had a nickname that felt like it belonged to either a caveman or a Muppet. Short, weird, and somehow iconic.
7. The Chairman of the Board
Whitey Ford had ice in his veins and total control on the mound. But his nickname made him sound more like a Wall Street CEO than a Yankee legend.
6. The Mechanical Man
Charlie Gehringer earned this one for his consistent, robot-like performance, which is great… unless you like your baseball players to seem remotely human.
5. Blue Moon
Blue Moon Odom might have had the smoothest nickname on this list. But let’s be honest—it also sounds like a cocktail you order on vacation.
4. The Crime Dog
Fred McGriff’s nickname came straight from a cartoon PSA. Nothing screams “feared slugger” like being named after an animated dog that tells kids to stay in school.
3. Spaceman
Bill Lee wasn’t just eccentric—he was out there. His nickname was less about baseball and more about his habit of saying things that made you wonder what planet he was from.
2. The Big Unit
Randy Johnson is a Hall of Famer and one of the most terrifying pitchers ever. But let’s be honest—his nickname makes everyone do a double-take.
1. The Mayor of Ding Dong City
Travis Shaw’s nickname sounds like something out of a cartoon fever dream. It’s equal parts absurd and unforgettable, making it the most bizarre MLB nickname ever.
