Have a laugh with Braves' funniest moments

ATLANTA -- Throughout its long history, baseball has provided us plenty of opportunities to laugh at the expense of some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Nobody has ever been immune to the blunders and pranks that have entertained fans for more than a century.

Here’s a look at some of the most comical moments in Braves history:

1. A Trip Save and a Beauty
Sept. 20, 2010
Some of us might have questioned Matt Diaz’s range, but the former Braves outfielder covered enough ground to trip a fan who ran on the field and initially eluded Citizens Bank Park security guards during the seventh inning of the Phillies’ 3-1 win. Diaz stalked his prey and then casually approached before sticking his foot out to trip the man, who was wearing a red spandex body suit and mask.

2. Nobody’s home
April 20, 2010
Nate McLouth did not enjoy a memorable tenure in Atlanta, but the walk-off homer he hit to end a 4-3, 10-inning win over the Phillies proved quite memorable when he rounded the bases and returned to an empty dugout. When McLouth hit his game-ending blast to right field, Chipper Jones and the rest of the Braves hurried out of sight down the dugout stairs, where they met the briefly confused hero of the night.

3. Down goes Huddy
July 2, 2011
Those who saw the Braves claim a 5-4 win over the Orioles witnessed Tim Hudson tripping and tumbling toward the plate while attempting to throw a pitch in the first inning. As Hudson playfully tipped his cap to the crowd, Chipper Jones put his hand over his mouth and attempted to hide his laughter.

4. An all-timer
June 1, 2007
Bobby Cox holds the Major League record for most ejections, but he admitted he had never seen an eruption like the one former Double-A Mississippi manager Phillip Wellman staged on this night in Chattanooga. A brewing feud with the third-base umpire led Wellman to be ejected for objecting to a pitch call. This led Wellman to storm onto the field, erupt on the home-plate umpire and then create a comical exit. He grabbed both second base and third base, crawled through the grass, picked up a rosin bag and then threw it like it was a grenade. Words don’t do it justice. Watch the video and enjoy the entertainment.

5. A victorious faceplant
July 26, 2011
Those who remember the Braves’ 4-3, 19-inning win over the Pirates likely remember it ending on plate umpire Jerry Meals blowing a call by ruling Julio Lugo safe at the plate. Some might remember the young girl, whose constant scream grew louder as the crowd grew thinner. Many might also remember that the game ended on Scott Proctor’s fielder’s choice. But do you remember Proctor falling flat on his face as he exited the batter’s box?

6. McCann halts Gómez’s HR trot
Sept. 25, 2013
Unaware of how much Carlos Gómez disliked Paul Maholm, the Braves weren’t prepared for what occurred after Gómez opened the Brewers’ 4-0 win with a homer off Maholm. The Milwaukee outfielder yelled as he came out of the box, gestured toward Maholm on his way to first base and then continued to draw attention as he rounded the bases. But about 30 feet from the plate, Gómez was promptly stopped by catcher Brian McCann, who got in the outfielder’s face and refused to let him progress any farther.

7. Pure Mayhem
Aug. 12, 1984
It might not have been funny at the moment, but 35-plus years later, even the combatants are laughing about the multiple benches-clearing incidents that led to the dugouts being empty at the conclusion of the Braves’ 5-3 win over the Padres. Pascual Perez hit Alan Wiggins with the game’s first pitch and then had to avoid San Diego’s repeated attempts to hit him. After he was finally plunked in the eighth inning, one of the game’s best benches-clearing incidents erupted.

8. Nice try Ozzie
Sept. 18, 2019
Along with being one of the game’s most exciting young players, Ozzie Albies is an entertainer who enjoys irritating his teammates and opponents in a playful manner. During a 4-1 loss to the Phillies, Albies created some laughs when he lifted Jean Segura’s hand off second base after the Philadelphia shortstop had slid safely into the bag and time was called.

9. Mad Dog dances
May 5, 1993
Just one month into his 11-season stint with the Braves, Greg Maddux entertained Atlanta fans with his athleticism while scoring the only run in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates. Attempting to score on Jeff Blauser’s single to center, Maddux appeared to be a dead duck. But the Hall of Famer leaped over Don Slaught and then juked left, before cutting right and diving back toward the plate ahead of the Pirates catcher’s tag.