Weird Sports News: 20 of the Strangest Moments in Sports History

Sports are unpredictable, and sometimes that means something truly bizarre happens. Animals invade the field, trophies get stolen, games are played in impossible conditions and records are set by accident. Here are 20 of the weirdest true stories in sports history.

Animals stealing the show

1. Randy Johnson's pigeon (2001)

During a spring training game in March 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson threw a fastball that struck a bird flying across the plate. The bird exploded in a cloud of feathers, and the pitch was declared "no pitch." The clip remains one of the most replayed weird moments in baseball.

2. The dog that found the World Cup

The Jules Rimet Trophy, the original World Cup, was stolen in London in March 1966, months before England hosted the tournament. A week later, a dog named Pickles found it wrapped in newspaper under a hedge while out on a walk with his owner. Pickles became a national celebrity.

3. The rally squirrel (2011)

During the 2011 playoffs, a squirrel ran across the field in St. Louis during a Cardinals game. Fans adopted the "rally squirrel" as a mascot, and the Cardinals went on to win the World Series.

4. The Billy Goat curse

According to legend, a Chicago tavern owner was asked to leave Wrigley Field with his pet goat during the 1945 World Series and cursed the Cubs. The Cubs did not win another World Series until 2016, ending a 108-year drought.

5. The Bug Game (2007)

During a playoff game in Cleveland, a swarm of tiny insects called midges covered the field. New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, surrounded by bugs, lost control and Cleveland won the game.

Bizarre games and plays

6. Ten Cent Beer Night (1974)

The Cleveland Indians sold beer for 10 cents a cup at a game against the Texas Rangers. The promotion went badly wrong: fans ran onto the field, and the game ended in a forfeit.

7. Disco Demolition Night (1979)

The Chicago White Sox let fans in cheaply if they brought disco records to be blown up between games of a doubleheader. Thousands of fans stormed the field after the explosion, and the White Sox had to forfeit the second game.

8. Jose Canseco's head assist (1993)

A fly ball bounced off the head of Texas Rangers outfielder Jose Canseco and over the fence for a home run. It became one of the most famous blooper plays in baseball.

9. The Fog Bowl (1988)

A thick fog rolled over Soldier Field during an NFL playoff game between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. Players, fans and TV cameras could barely see the field for much of the second half.

10. The Snow Plow Game (1982)

The New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 3–0 in a snowstorm after a snowplow driver cleared a spot on the field for the winning field goal. The NFL later banned the practice.

11. The Band Is on the Field (1982)

California beat Stanford on a last-second kickoff return with five laterals, as the Stanford band, thinking the game was over, marched onto the field. A Cal player ran through the band into the end zone, knocking over a trombone player.

12. A 70-68 tennis set (2010)

John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played the longest tennis match in history at Wimbledon, lasting more than 11 hours over three days. The fifth set alone ended 70–68. Marathon matches like this one eventually led Wimbledon to introduce a final-set tiebreak in 2019.

Strange records and oddities

13. Eddie Gaedel, the shortest player

In 1951, St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to the plate as a pinch hitter. He walked on four pitches, and the league quickly banned the stunt.

14. A pitcher who threw a no-hitter "on LSD"

Pittsburgh pitcher Dock Ellis said years later that he had thrown his 1970 no-hitter against San Diego while under the influence of LSD. The claim made the game one of baseball's strangest legends.

15. A runner who took the subway

At the 1980 Boston Marathon, Rosie Ruiz crossed the finish line first among women, but officials discovered she had joined the race near the end. Her title was stripped, and she was also found to have used the subway during the New York City Marathon.

16. The 149–0 soccer match (2002)

In Madagascar, one team scored 149 own goals in protest against a refereeing decision in a previous match. It is listed as the most lopsided score in soccer history.

Weird things fans and athletes did

17. The octopus toss

Detroit Red Wings fans throw octopuses on the ice during the playoffs, a tradition that began in 1952 when the eight tentacles represented the eight wins needed to take the Stanley Cup.

18. The Florida rats

In 1995, a rat ran into the Florida Panthers' locker room and forward Scott Mellanby killed it with his stick, then scored two goals. Fans started throwing plastic rats on the ice after every goal.

19. The Butt Fumble (2012)

On Thanksgiving night 2012, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into the backside of his own lineman, Brandon Moore, fumbled, and watched the New England Patriots return the ball for a touchdown. The play became one of the most replayed bloopers in NFL history.

20. Usain Bolt's chicken nuggets

Usain Bolt said he ate around 1,000 chicken nuggets during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won three gold medals, because he was unsure about other food in the athletes' village.

For more surprising stories, read cool baseball facts, famous athlete injuries and on this day in sports history.