Weirdest Batting Stances in Baseball History

[@jackcoogan310]

Growing up in Milwaukee, we always imitated Craig Counsell’s stance and our coach always told us to stop “dickin’ around”

[@anxietyonline1947]

That's hilarious, my grandpa would always say that when us grandkids were acting out and he coached us in baseball. It's such an old man phrase. 😂

[@bassmankilla9352]

I love that phrase, I remember hearing my friends dad say it once to us, I thought it was hilarious, and now I say it to my kids 🤣

[@gaguseo83grah]

dog this is so true, go brew crew!!

[@chuckturdburger4612]

I can't wait til I'm old enough to start saying that.

[@anxietyonline1947]

@@chuckturdburger4612 I think the government sends you a license after age 55 where you have free range to say it all the time.

[@sootchh4055]

That little Japanese pitcher (Masanori Ishikawa) running away from Tony Batista has been a staple in the Japanese version of all-time baseball bloopers. It took place in 2005. Hard to blame him, he's barely 5'6", and is still active at age 44 with 186 career wins as of July 2024.

[@newp0rt]

bro half the population would run away from batista running like that.

[@va960]

Short king, along with Yasuhiro Ogawa

[@SlimCharles17]

I miss weird batting stances, it's one of the things that actually got me into baseball. Craig Counsell turning his body into a stick and holding the bat up as high as he possibly can will always be the best. Alfonso Soriano is one of my all-time favorite ones.

[@staidenofanarchy]

Gary Sheffield is my all time favorite batting stance, he always batted like he was mad at the pitcher for the having the sheer audacity to throw him a pitch

[@AirLancer]

@@staidenofanarchy It helped that Gary Sheffield was a beast of a hitter, and always seemed to come through in the clutch too.

[@patrickstrahm05]

What about Tony Bautista? His exaggerated open stance where half his body is facing 3rd base before the pitch was delivered

[@INFJ-ThaneTr]

Weird batting stances reduce power, control, speed and accuracy.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

In the 2001 World Series I had fun making fun of him. Of course I didn't like how well he played, as I'm a Yankee fan.

[@MyTeamOnly_]

That kid at 1:09 needs to be on the fckn Savannah Bananas yesterday bruv

[@juanf5391]

(1:05)That kid’s batting sequence had a whole anime transformation scene and it wasn’t even his last form.

[@Sedge2]

he was pulling out every emote in his repertoire and every incantation buff he had

[@KevinFord-sc1xn]

If Casey Rocket played baseball

[@scotttill3847]

Only weebs will understand wtf you just said there...

[@juanf5391]

@@scotttill3847 He may take offense to that and go kioken on your a**.

[@Firemaneric]

he def needed to pee

[@mitchell6392]

It’s insane Julio Franco wasn’t mentioned in this video. He had one of the most unorthodox stances and played 25 years until he was 48, had a lifetime .298 average, and was only 400 hits away from 3000

[@erikkingissepp9090]

Came here to find a Julio Franco comment! When I was a kid we'd all pantomime the unique stances of players and Franco's was the wildest and everyone would guess it in .0002 seconds! 😂😂😂 can't believe he wasn't mentioned in the video.

[@joshbless412]

I also came here for this comment. It’s an outrage that he’s not even mentioned.

[@knowyourenemies7]

Loved Julio in the Indians. Juan Gonzalez had a somewhat odd stance too

[@DoltFromTheBlue]

Came here looking for Julio, remember him when he finished up his career with the Mets at 48!

[@mikeygallos5000]

Julio was one of my heroes when I was a kid being a Texas Rangers fan.

[@foxyfoxington2651]

1:05 This isn't a stance, it's Art.

[@logang9282]

I'm guessing that's a Korean team? They seem to love putting on a show.

[@LISA75_]

Looks more like interpretive dance to me.

[@Wallyworld30]

He was so tired from the dance he didn't have the gas to run out that ground ball at full speed. Insane his coach let him do all that.

[@CordovaMage]

I cant imagine him being able to keep that routine up for long without tiring himself out.

[@Liface]

Get this dude on the Savannah Bananas.

[@dennymayo5868]

Some of my fondest early teenage memories, like ‘95-‘97, was backyard homerun derby at my dawg Chuck’s house. No regular batting stances allowed, only MLB imitations. Todd Hunley was my fav, Bagwell a close 2nd, Julio Franco & Gary Sheffield are up there too. Tie breaker round was always Chuck Knoblauch style

[@JohnnyNiteTrain]

We did the same thing!!! but a little earlier on in the early '90s (I'm 45). I always used to to Mickey Tettleton, and Sheffield too

[@alejandrolemmo]

As a kid growing up in the 90’s, watching Andres Galarraga’s stance was a blast. Unique stance and power. He deserves more recognition

[@Flergenbergen]

El Gatote

[@freeparking301]

I went around Little League in the mid 90s doing his stance as well

[@kozigreek]

Agreed!

[@TheFlamingPike]

I loved Galarraga! I actually clicked on this video while thinking about Galarraga's stance!!! I was an Expos fan as a kid. Me and my grandpa would play in the backyard and I would mimic Galarraga, Pedro Martinez, Larry Walker, etc. good times. Baseball lost a lot of its charm over time.

[@ブレイヴフェンサ]

The big cat is underrated should be in the hall

[@illford]

1:20 kid is playing mario sluggers with all the taunting

[@bupkis1445]

Remember everyone: it’s only stupid if it doesn’t work

[@DeeMFNReal009]

Facts

[@cameronkedas3375]

@bupkis1445 Well, I guess that means joe biden’s stupid because his brain doesn’t work.

[@kingarchnyc]

Well, it can still be funny! 🤣

[@r0cky_2010]

@@DeeMFNReal009 Fun fact: The strike zone doesn’t change when they change batting stances.

[@christopherwellman2364]

I think I have a weird bowling style (as I've been told), but I throw a lot of strikes.

[@jackheeke4897]

I was not ready for that Garth Brooks segment

[@Ardante11]

As soon as i saw it, i was like “…The Hell??”

[@opadrinho7577]

During the interview clips, there’s a guy in the background with a blonde mullet, that’s Ian Rotten, a professional wrestler! That the whole segment even weirder ahah

[@donwhiteley3293]

I remember that spring training and that borderline webgem play he made but forgotten that Counsell was the hitter or that Counsell had been 0 for spring training at the time.

[@puttfordoughdiscgolf9361]

@@donwhiteley3293 Crazy Counsel has been a multiple team manager now too. Much respect for the dude.

[@g33ch33]

I wonder if Counsel is still telling that story.

[@MrMurraypants]

Gary Sheffield is by far my favorite batting stance. It's like a metronome. But it's a functional distraction to the pitcher as well. I can see how it may act like a hypnotic effect.

[@runvnc208]

I think it's just straight intimidating how fast he wiggled it like a twig.

[@MDCxThePG]

Modeled my stance after Sheffield and even had his number growing up.

[@vttheary]

Bagwell and Sheffield had, in my opinion, the most intimidating stances in all of baseball.

[@bobdole4916]

Bagwell's thighs were freaking tree trunks. That low stance was so steady, it was like he was sitting on a chair. Insanely strong legs is why he could do that stance.

[@ZanraiKid]

As a kid, watching Jim Thome on the 03-05 Phillies was a treat. It wasn’t really a weird stance, but he held his bat real high like a broadsword aloft. And he absolutely put balls in the stratosphere this way.

[@wsg-yw4dd]

0:26 bro thought he was in super Mario sluggers💀💀💀💀

[@chocolatycatsoup]

bruh i’m legit laughing out loud at this comment rn 😆

[@leoa2187]

Bagwell’s stance always got my attention when I first started to watch baseball as a kid. Sadly that was during the 2004 and 2005 season. When he retired shortly afterwards. I really wish he got a ring.

[@patmccrotch5373]

As a Phillies fan, Larry Andersen is the color analyst on the radio, and the amount of hell he catches about the Jeff Bagwell trade from his colleagues (and he bags on himself too) makes for some fun radio.

[@CGzone11]

Who just loves baseball doesn’t exist

[@sumonedum]

That sentence hurts to read.

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

I dont even like baseball, but love this channel.

[@widk2]

Impressive that he has a channel about a sport that dosent exiest

[@GO_GIANTS26]

Me

[@williweber677]

Who just hates the mets

[@shockmonkeyradio7128]

My brother(s). I am impressed how much you live and breathe baseball. I watch your content more than actual games, everything i need to know about baseball i can get from you. Let me know if you ever want to hit up the batting cages...i'm drunk and loose enough...

[@bobfrank3575]

9:08 the pitcher was so scared of him🤣🤣🤣

[@ShermanSkolnick294]

Sign this guy up to play for the Savannah Bananas! 1:04

[@dvon1097]

1:15 that's not a baseball player, that's Anakin Skywalker

[@ProtocolDroidHK47]

I remember when I was in little league I copied Ichiro's batting style, and did okay. Mostly grounders, and I definitely would've made more hits if I was faster, but for a 10 year old not bad. The coach demanded I change my batting style to something more normal. I struck out every time after that. Tried switching back to the Ichiro style a few times, but would get yelled at from the dugout and occasionally by parents in the bleachers to stop mid at-bat. Hated it so much I ended up convincing my parents to let me skip that last few games of the year and never signed up again.

[@blahblah49000]

Sad, those folks really know how to suck the fun out of the game.

[@AJ-ny1ox]

I ALWAYS thought Bagwell's stance was so weird when my parents took me to a game! I feel validated over something I first voiced to my folks 20 something years ago.

[@coinbuyer-8605]

Always looked like he was sitting on an invisible stool to me

[@FigureFarter]

Jeff Bagwell plays limbo.

[@MrAstrodome]

​@@coinbuyer-8605 I thought my family was the only one it called it that! 😂

[@larrystone9474]

This video didn't mention one of the most unorthodox batting stances ever. One that was used by one of the most iconic players in history. The batting stance of Stan Musial, often referred to as 'hitting around a corner.

[@MartyMcCoy-k8c]

AKA, the "Human Corkscrew"!! Also, no mention of Carl Yaz's. He was the first one to hold his hands real high about his head like some of the newer guys do now.

[@HoboJoeShow]

Dude. I don't even watch baseball but I never miss one of your vids! You're amazing at what you do.

[@OnePunchMan-]

The same I don't even watch baseball his videos are so entertaining

[@The_ZeroLine]

I used to, but haven’t for decades now and also watch every single one of his videos. He’s the best.

[@elburto5387]

Same

[@tylers82]

The way this man choreographs baseball oddities is super entertaining.

[@jonathancarlson6127]

I liked Gary Sheffield's metronome stance and I'm glad his son does it, too. Also, Joe Morgan with those armpit farts.

[@Wallyworld30]

I started watching baseball in 1986 and I attempted his batting stance in high school. It's fun but for me it made it harder to hit the ball.

[@Yostyburneraccount]

@1:44 should be a Savannah banana

[@LMLR187]

Yup. The first thing I thought seeing that.

[@Theseattlemarinersfan]

Agreed

[@legbert123]

I miss weird batting stances.

[@ErikLarson-l9k]

I see other comments already mentioned Julio Franco and Andres Galarraga, but I’d like to add John Kruk and Mickey Tettleton. Tettleton was a catcher/DH for the Rangers and a pretty good power hitter, and his normal stance was standing perfectly still with his hands at his waist and the bat pointing straight back, parallel to the ground. Very weird but did the job.

[@MichaelSnyder1776]

Not a huge baseball fan, but i never miss your content. The topics are always so interesting and has a good story to tell. Those 2000 era stances were awesome!

[@notarabbit1752]

Also Ichiro's pendulum swing gave him an quick first step towards 1st, which helped him leg out singles

[@TiagoGomez-hb9te]

Exactly!!!

[@CGzone11]

I wish these batting stances came back

[@normie2716]

I wish a lot of things from early 2000s baseball would come back.

[@girrthbrooks]

At 6:48 is anybody else hearing "The DBags" instead of DBacks? I feel like I'm losing it 😅

[@ArsenicDrone]

It's definitely "d-bags". Maybe on purpose, maybe not.

[@James-wk5mj]

Thats pretty much the only name they go by in my life

[@sirmonkey1985]

because that's their name.. don't let the writing on the jersey fool you.. ;)

[@MattHuey]

12:00 growing up playing baseball till i was 18...i mimicked Gary Sheffield!!😂💯 Hidiki Nomo pitching!🤘

[@WESsential]

^Hideo Nomo

[@WESsential]

^Hideo Nomo

[@SecondWindStories]

Shef has one of the best stances of all-time, easily. I think anyone ever walking to the plate has at one time tried to immitate the bat action at the plate! 😁

[@user-rt2mq3qp2k]

I love your videos a lot because they take a concept like the evolution of bag swings, which other videos would just turn into a choppy boring listicle, and make it a smooth and flowing idea that is effortlessly entertaining. Good Job!

[@Lillia-nu2xt]

You're nailing it, keep the great work!

[@MScotty90]

The guy at 1:05’s second phase is cracking me up, spinning the bat like he’s Anakin vs Obi Wan then he didn’t even swing at the pitch lol

[@qqw743]

Joe Morgan's wing flap was a lot of fun. But seeing George Brett in the studio should remind us that he changed his stance to a lean-back approach that then turned him into one of the best hitters ever. I believe batting coach Charlie Lau worked it out with him.

[@BoscoLemonzit]

Yep, also made Dwight Evans a star. Frank Thomas too. I keep waiting for the the Charlie Lau/Walt Hriniak style to make a comeback.

[@JohnnyNiteTrain]

Man baseball has changed so much since I was a kid in the '80s and '90s. I guess that's really the case for all the major sports.

[@lukes4929]

Always a good day when BDE uploads

[@eltonrice7392]

The 1970's Joe Morgan's arm flap, Willie Stargell's windmill, Cesar Cedeno's shovel and Willie McCoveys stance were great.

[@BoscoLemonzit]

yep, forgot about Stargell and his windmill. Back in the 60s, chicago had a player Pete Ward that had a similar windmill type swing

[@spoogtastic]

In 35 years old, my favorite stance was always Sheffield. Was always a huge knoblach stance fan too because it was hilarious.

[@CTBombastic1]

This channel has exponentially increases my interest in baseball. Love the content!!

[@84m30]

Waiting for Bagwell’s power squat. Something about Houston trading away mid players for future HOF’ers (Yordan Alvarez too)

[@reverend_wintondupree]

You couldn't wait until 3:45?

[@Nami]

@@reverend_wintondupree They literally just said they waited. What are you smoking?

[@reverend_wintondupree]

​@@NamiNot as strong of stuff as what your smoking I suppose. They commented without watching the video, or "waiting" just the 3 minutes.

[@Nami]

@@reverend_wintondupree OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIT, THIRD GRADE COMEBACK. HOLY SHIT, I'VE BEEN COOKED.

[@TheBourbonWrench]

Fun fact; I based my batting stance in the Arkansas 2005 pitching machine state championship based on my favorite players on mlb mvp 2004 video game. I’m sure it wasn’t accurate at all, but the stance they gave Sosa in that game seemed to be the stance I’d make the best contact. And trust me, I tried every single weird stance that was shown in that game. Everyone wants to assume there’s a “best method backed by science,” but sometimes the simplest answer is whatever makes the result happen. If you made it this far, I highly recommend replaying that game. One of the best mlb games of all time. The stances, the players, dang that game was gold.

[@triadmad]

From my teenage years, the stances that stand out in my memory are Willie Stargell's windmill action, and Joe Morgan's arm flapping.

[@MartyMcCoy-k8c]

Finally, someone from "my day"! Two of my favorite stances. Willie would just windmill his bat until the pitcher started in his windup, then do it two times real quick and hit it A MILE!! My favorite player of all time was Joe Morgan. I had some things in common with him. I was born on his 15th birthday, September 19, 1958. I always played second base and loved the Big Red Machine. But, to watch him flapping his arm didn't remind me of anything but the way that we kids imitated a fart by putting one hand under our arms and flap like that it would sound like a poot. Some great memories!

[@IamThePro78]

I remember Cal Ripken Jr more for his different batting stances then for anything else. Also playing pick up games trying to imitate these stances was very fun. Sheffield's and Frank Thomas was my favorite ones to do.

[@heckerbeluga9497]

Underrated content creator

[@eeik5150]

It blows me away how much mythology you create since Baseball Doesn’t Exist.

[@KaneMita]

I’m convinced that baseball exists

[@gregyoungman]

You’re literally insane and this kind of heresy will not be tolerated

[@rickbonilla8308]

Carney Lansford, Julio Franco, Harold Baines, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, were all ones I remember, watching Baseball in the late 80's through the 90's.

[@Maddyhob]

This makes me wish baseball existed

[@colinrankin1659]

5:24 I think you mean a famous serial killer 😂

[@agobie03]

Huh

[@SerryJeinfeld]

​@@agobie03lol I get the joke

[@OliveMule]

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING EDDIE MURRAY. DUDE HES AWESOME

[@mikeb2644]

Where is Eddie Murray?

[@OliveMule]

@@mikeb2644 towards the end in the dodgers jerz

[@MartyMcCoy-k8c]

@@mikeb2644 I was wondering that as well. I don't remember seeing him in it at all.

[@1987BillyBob]

ESPN, I believe it was Peter Gammons in the early 2000s did a video on batting stances. He compared Manny Ramirez, Mike Sweeny, and I forgot the third, three of the top hitters at the time. What they showed was at their swing everything was the same despite the stances being different. The swing is the most important part.

[@Andorski]

10:04 LMAO WTF WAS THAT?!

[@corey2232]

The stance I remember most (as a non-baseball fan) was Jime Tome coming out & pointing the bat at the pitchers. I used to watch him growing up, just because the strangeness fascinated me.

[@AaronBostrom-pd2st]

If only this " Baseball thing" existed

[@therealnugzy]

5:57 randomly spotting Brian Knobbs

[@connor-d1y]

BDE always drops bangers

[@cardinalsfan9610]

I didn't play baseball all that well, or for very long, but I decided to have a Gary Sheffield-esque bat waggle just for kicks. I don't remember if I saw the stance on SportsCenter one day, or through a baseball video game, but I decided on a whim to do it. I was 10 years old, and even then, knew I didn't have much of a baseball future. It was fun to do. I do think that individuality, by the time a prospect gets to the bigs, will be all but gone (in terms of a batting stance). I love playing golf, and I am very much a feel player. If things were such that I couldn't be that way anymore, I would struggle. I can imagine baseball players, to some extent, can be the same way.

[@jimwarrer5612]

One thing to note about John Wokenfuss' batting style is he also would wiggle his top hand while waiting for the pitch.

[@mikepastor.k6233]

He was also the best hit and run hitter of all time 😮

[@MrTee-hw7mp]

This is a fantastic video btw. Lots of little nuggets all put together flawlessly.

[@Tenchigumi]

As someone who knows nothing about baseball, but is quite an avid fan of swords and swordsmanship, I see some of these stances and think "huh, that's oddly familiar."

[@Kathexiis]

This is one of the best, most entertaining, and informative videos about the old stick and ball game that I all love! (Haven’t seen a second of the video yet.)

[@PrimarySweeper13]

Maybe mention Griffey? It’s the swagiest swing ever

[@twizzy585ots]

Pretty not weird tho...also swing and stance slight difference

[@ChubbsTheCat]

This is about weird stances. Griffeys was very normal with a small twitch. Did you forget the video title and topic?

[@blahblah49000]

@@ChubbsTheCat I don't think Griffey's was "very normal." It was unique and powerful, keeping the bat very close and leading with the shoulder. Surprising to see that no one seems to imitate it anymore.

[@gusclaimer21]

LOVE this episode! Great stories (Bagwell, Counsel/Brooks, Ripken) thx for the research!

[@ono3869]

1:05 The Asian Juan Soto.

[@anthonylerma9261]

"...Except it was a strike" had me rolling 😂😂😂😂😂

[@DylanMichno]

That kid definitely is a martial artist

[@OnePunchMan-]

I think you're onto something. 🤔

[@joshuajimenez3738]

Why is this guys obsession about something that doesn't exist?

[@andrewbrasuell8589]

I love that you made this video. Jeff Bagwell also won an MVP (94). Juan Soto has a pretty weird stance where the sole of his front foot faces the pitcher (until he has 2 strikes).

[@jdlstoryteller]

Y'all missed Julio Franco. THAT stance was NUTS.

[@nicholasjones8771]

Great video! 80s/90s kid Eric Davis Julio Franco Ruben Sierra Carney Lansford Andre Dawson Mark Mcguire Andres Galarraga Vince Coleman Tim Raines Mo Vaughn Griffey Jr So many unique stances that we would imitate in our school yard games

[@powerisknowledgeTV]

0:59 the "if it ain't broke don't fix it method"

[@BlancoDasMe]

Great video. I’m a mid to late 90s early 2000s MLB guy and you’re right; the most unique stances during the time. What a fun time.

[@Luzion]

dude twirling the bat is asking for a fastball to the face

[@TimothyWenger]

Growing up a Boston area kid in the early 2000’s, watching Youkilis’s stance was always wild. My brother and I would always imitate mlb players’ stances when we would play wiffle ball in the yard, and Youk’s was always so much fun to try to do. Great memories!

[@ToeiuFioua]

This man's choreography of bizarre baseball situations is quite hilarious.

[@zackhample]

I love that no matter how batters set up in all sorts of crazy ways, everyone gets to the same ready position before starting their swing. But hey, whatever works!

[@grandsalami3048]

1 view in 21 seconds, wow, bro fell off🤣

[@BaseballDoesntExist]

quitting now....

[@grandsalami3048]

@@BaseballDoesntExist NOOOO!! PLEASE DONT I LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS😂

[@EddieJr8611]

4:50 god damn lol insane great content man

[@LilacDownDeep]

Always loved Bagwell's stance. If I recall correctly from my childhood going to games and watching him play, he also practically did the splits as a first basemen which is surprisingly useful.

[@mayosia007]

1:15 dude! that kid got some lightsaber skills

[@VIOIYTIOE]

This man's choreography of bizarre baseball situations is quite hilarious.

[@Grimprospect]

Very cool, we need to bring more of this back! Verdugo kinda had a weird stance.

[@mikepastor.k6233]

In 1980, the California Angels had two players with the most extreme stances. Brian Downing had the most open and Dan Ford had the most closed. Check them out.. 😮

[@brownseed777]

Awesome video man! We all mimic these stands as kids!

[@michaelnevins8820]

This is the best content on KZbin.

[@SelfTaughtArtist1]

Super entertaining video man. I’m really impressed.

[@Rizzbulla]

This is the type of content KZbin was made for.

[@jonathanswink2682]

YEEEESSSSS Sheffeld had that best stance ever....that tapping the bat was so money. It was like it was building up violence. Love it

[@phreddphlintstone297]

You have to back to the 1960's , but the stance you're looking for was that of Dick McAuliffe, 2B for the Detroit Tigers from 1960-1973 . Look at his early stance in 62-65 where he started on just one leg. He was the leadoff hitter. Great player.

[@BoscoLemonzit]

Hated McAuliffe. HIs flying kick broke Tommy John's shoulder and put him out for the season. It changed Tommy Johns motion and arm angle a little, which then he developed the elbow problem and got the experimental surgery named after him. Still won 280+ games and should be in the hall of fame.

[@blahblah49000]

@@BoscoLemonzit He kicked him?

[@BoscoLemonzit]

@@blahblah49000 yep, ran out to the mound and did a flying kick right into his left shoulder and broke it

[@Zappy714]

I feel very thankful to have grown up with the Ministry of Funny Stances.

[@nickl968]

Another great video! Also would love it if you did a vid about fans rushing the field

[@NateMcMurph]

Cleveland’s got some good ones currently with Naylor, Kwan, and especially Noel (maybe one or two I’m missing). Let’s go Guards!

[@bravie902]

Grew up watching Gary Sheffield and Julio Franco (definitely worth seeing if anyone hasn't) 😢 Bring these stances back! They'd fit great with the modern game and keep players relaxed at the plate.

[@RurbanWalker]

As a NYY fan, my Little League stance emulated Mickey Rivers who as a runner I likened myself to. Years later in adult softball, I was still doing a hybrid Rivers/Rickey Henderson type batting crouch but not hitting particularly well. Then I converted to a boring, upright stance and started hitting so much better. I guess the crouch is useful for drawing walks in baseball, but at least for me optimal hitting occurred with a far more generic stance.

[@vibeslide]

I only recently got interested in baseball and the many little quirks of it are definitely part of the fascination.