Baseball players are no strangers to strange nicknames. Whether it’s something bizarre their teammates came up with, a childhood story gone wrong, or just a random word that stuck, MLB has a long history of weird monikers.
Here are the 10 weirdest nicknames in MLB history — and yes, we’re still not sure how some of these happened.
10. “Oil Can” – Dennis Boyd
No, he didn’t pitch with motor oil, but apparently “Oil Can” was Mississippi slang for beer. Either way, it’s a nickname that sounds more like a cartoon mechanic than a starting pitcher.
9. “The Human Rain Delay” – Mike Hargrove
His pre-pitch routine took so long it felt like you could go make a sandwich and come back before the next swing. If baseball had a buffering symbol, it would’ve been his face.
8. “The Mad Hungarian” – Al Hrabosky
The hair. The mustache. The mid-mound psych-up rituals. He looked and acted like someone who would absolutely yell at a baseball.
7. “The Big Donkey” – Adam Dunn
He was massive and slow, but man, could he mash. It’s not exactly flattering, but let’s be honest — it fit.
6. “Kitty” – Jim Kaat
A tough, durable pitcher with the nickname of a house cat. The contrast is hilarious, and also makes you wonder if his fastball purred.
5. “Blue Moon” – John Odom
No explanation, just vibes. He said he never knew why he was called “Blue Moon,” and honestly, we respect the mystery.
4. “The Toy Cannon” – Jimmy Wynn
He was small but had massive power, like a firecracker in cleats. Nothing says “weird but awesome” like combining a child’s toy with a weapon of destruction.
3. “Boomer” – David Wells
He looked like a dad who accidentally wandered into a game and threw a no-hitter. The nickname screams backyard barbecue and baseballs getting absolutely launched.
2. “The Warden” – Matt Stairs
No one’s quite sure where this nickname came from, but he looked like the kind of guy who could run a prison or hit a walk-off. Both seemed equally likely.
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1. “Death to Flying Things” – Bob Ferguson
Now that’s a nickname. It sounds like he fought dragons, but it was actually about his elite fielding — though we wouldn’t have doubted him either way.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Iconic Nicknames in MLB History
