Baseball has a lengthy list of rules that players must must follow that are absent in the rule book. These rules dictate what a player can and can't do on the field, what they can and can't do off the field, and even they can and can't wear. And when a player breaks one of these unwritten rules, the consequences are severe. So here are baseball's craziest unwritten rules, and the brave players who dared to break them:
Don't bunt late in the game during a no-hitter:
If a pitcher hasn't allowed a hit by the seventh inning, everyone at that point is aware that a no-hitter is within reach. After around the seventh inning or so, you need to actually "earn" a hit to end a no-hitter, as bunting is seen as a cheap way to stop a pitcher's name from being ingrained in the history books.
Players who broke it: Dominic Brown, Francisco Lindor, and Ben Davis
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In 2014, Dominic Brown noticed a shift in the Padres' defense and decided to bunt for hit up the third base line while Andrew Cashner was five innings into a no-hitter. Cashner was visibly upset. Francisco Lindor committed a similar act the following year against the Royals in the seventh and received plenty of boos. However, the most famous case of this unwritten rule getting broken is in 2001, when Diamondbacks' starter Kurt Schilling had a perfect game into the 8th until Ben Davis bunted for a hit. This moment sparked the ongoing debate of whether bunting during a no-hitter should be allowed.
No Excessive Celebrations:
Just a few decades ago, this unwritten rule was insanely strict, with players such as Reggie Jackson, Wayne Gross, and Jeffery Leonard, getting nailed for watching home runs a tad too long, or taking too long to run the bases after hitting a home run. The Yankees celebrated winning the 1943 World Series by walking off the field like nothing had happened. Among others, Stan Williams kept a list of hitters in his hat that had crossed himyin some way, so he wouldn't forget to drill them.
Nowadays, proper MLB etiquette isn't taken as seriously, but players still occasionally get punished for excessively celebrating, especially if they don't have the stats to back it up. Just ask Jose Bautista, who was nailed to the head after excessively watching a home run during the 2015 ALDS. Tim Anderson was also beaned after flipping his bat to celebrate a home run hit against the Royals. Hitters can almost always get away with bat flips nowadays, because pitchers simply don't care enough.
No running up the score in a blowout:
Players who broke it: Barry Bonds, Adam Dunn, and Yermin Mercedes, among others
There are plenty of unwritten baseball rules that state what you're allowed and not allowed to do in a blowout. One of which is stealing a base when leading by six runs or more, which is seen as running up the score, and frowned upon by players alike. Just ask Barry Bonds, who, in 1998, stole second base in a blowout against the Phillies. Bonds was drilled for this the following day.
More recently, Yermin Mercedes hit a home run on a 3-0 pitch off of a Twins' position player when leading 16-4. Mercedes was, you guessed it, drilled the following day.
However, the Reds' Adam Dunn not only scored from second on a single in a blowout, which isn't allowed, but he ran over a catcher at home plate, despite his team winning by ten runs. Adam Dunn was drilled for this, and he even charged the mound.
Don't stand too close to the plate when on deck:
Players who broke it: Juan Soto and Jimmy Piersall
As stupid and obscure as this rule sounds, it is still heavily enforced today as it was 60 years ago, with the two main offenders of this unwritten rule being Juan Soto And Jimmy Piersall. Starting with the former, Juan Soto was screamed at by Braves' pitcher Will Smith during a 2019 game for standing too close to the plate when Smith was warming up. Soto responded by hitting a 430-foot bomb off of Smith. Will Smith screamed at the Nationals' dugout and got revenge by drilling Soto in the back one year later.
Jimmy Piersall, on the other hand, was punished before he even stepped in the box, with Ryan Duran throwing at him while he was in the on-deck circle, instead of throwing to the plate.
No long facial hair: (If you play for the Yankees)
In the early 20th century, the MLB had a strict unwritten rule that long hair or beards were prohibited. 29 MLB teams have long abandoned this, but the Yankees still enforce the policy to this day. George Steinbrenner wanted the team to have a "Professional" look, and the organization didn't change the rule after Steinbrenner died. Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Mccutchen, and Gerrit Cole all had to shave their long hair and/or beards after signing with the Yankees.
Player who broke it: Don Mattingly
One player, however, chose not to abide by the Yankees' strict hair policy. Don Mattingly refused to shave his mullet, and despite being the team's captain and best player, he was benched until he eventually trimmed his hair.
Never walk on the opposing Pitcher's mound:
Player who broke it: Alex Rodriguez
During a baseball game, the pitcher's mound is essentially the pitcher's property, and trespassing by the other team is seen as a sign of disrespect, and usually results in a fine of getting hit with a pitch. In 2010, Alex Rodriguez ran from first to third, but he ran back to first when he saw that the ball went foul. But when A-Rod ran back to first base, he walked over the pitcher's mound, which infuriated A's pitcher Dallas Braden. A-Rod apparently didn't even know this was a rule, but Braden was upset nevertheless, and the two argued for the rest of the game.
Here are some other unwritten rules of baseball that no players have ever had the guts to break:
Don't Wear sunglasses on your hat in a way that covers the logo
Pitchers can't yell at fielders for committing errors
Do not jinx the no-hitter by talking about it or to a pitcher
Don't peek at the catcher to steal signs
Don't rub the area where you got hit by a pitch
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