Most comical moments in Reds history

CINCINNATI -- As the oldest franchise in professional baseball, the Reds have provided a plethora of memorable moments. From World Series titles to Pete Rose becoming the all-time hits leader to Johnny Vander Meer's back-to-back no-hitters and players like Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson, Tony Perez, Barry Larkin and Joey Votto, there is no shortage of history makers.

But there have also been times remembered not so much for being great baseball plays but for being funny, strange or bizarre.

Here are some of the most comical moments in Reds history:

1. Browning just hanging around, on a roof
July 7, 1993

Already the owner of a perfect game in 1988 and a World Series ring from '90, Reds left-hander Tom Browning found a way to top it -- in a manner of speaking. As the Reds played the Cubs on an afternoon when he wasn’t pitching, Browning snuck out of Wrigley Field, walked across the street in full uniform and joined a random rooftop party that was filled with friendly Cubs fans drinking beer. Cameras caught him sitting and hanging out with his new friends on the edge of the roof with his feet dangling over the side. Even though Browning didn’t partake in any alcoholic beverages, he still drew a fine from his club.

2. Piniella throws first base
Aug. 21, 1990

In the sixth inning of an 8-1 Reds victory over the Cubs at Riverfront Stadium, Larkin was called out at first base trying to beat out an inning-ending double play. Manager Lou Piniella was incensed over the close call from first-base umpire Dutch Rennert and spiked his cap to the turf to draw an ejection. Piniella took out his anger with Rennert when he pulled the bag out of the dirt and threw it. Still not satisfied, Piniella followed up with a one-armed heave of the base into right field.

3. O’Neill kicks the ball to the infield
July 5, 1989

As the Phillies batted against the Reds in the bottom of the 10th inning at Veterans Stadium, Paul O'Neill was playing right field when Lenny Dykstra lined a single through the right side. As Steve Jeltz was running from second base, O’Neill bobbled the ball and was outraged with himself; he thought the miscue allowed a run to score. The fiery O’Neill kicked the ball in frustration, and it went perfectly to first baseman Todd Benzinger. Jeltz didn’t score and was held at third base because of the improvised play.

4. Votto trolls Phillies fans
May 15, 2016

As the Reds were headed to a 9-4 victory over the Phillies in a Sunday afternoon series finale, César Hernández grounded a ball foul to Votto at first base. Taking a few steps toward the seats, Votto appeared to be looking for a fan to toss the ball to as a souvenir. In a sudden heel turn, Votto turned and threw the ball to catcher Tucker Barnhart, drawing loud boos as he sported a satisfied smirk. He wasn’t done having fun with the fans. Votto turned towards them a second time and made a fist pump. And later in the game after a third out, he made a similar gesture and deked another toss of a ball to a waiting fan. Words were exchanged, but Votto insisted there was no malice intended.

"I was just having fun with them," Votto said after the game. "They give you a hard time during the game. That's my way of giving them a hard time back. Really, it's just me playing around.”

5. Winker waves goodbye to Mets fans
May 1, 2019

Reds left fielder Jesse Winker had some fun with Mets fans at Citi Field throughout the series, especially those seated near him that had heckled him during the games. In the opener of the four-game set on April 29, Winker hit the game-winning home run in the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory. After Raisel Iglesias closed the game with a strikeout, Winker turned to his new friends and waved before jogging away. Two days later, in a 1-0 Cincinnati win, it was Winker who made a slick sliding catch on his back in foul territory for the final out. As fans hung over the wall to give him a hard time, Winker simply smiled and once again waved. In an ironic twist of fate, Winker ended up playing for the Mets. He was traded from the Nationals to New York on July 28, 2024, and quickly became a fan favorite.

6. Marty and Joe with the Macho Man
Sept. 21, 1989

Midway through an 11-7 Reds loss to the Padres, broadcasting icons Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall invited famous professional wrestler Randy “Macho Man” Savage into their booth to appear live on air. Savage -- in town for a wrestling show at the arena next door to Riverfront Stadium and dressed in his full regalia of purple and gold tights with a crown on his head -- was a former Minor Leaguer for the Reds in the early '70s, when he was known as Randy Poffo.

“What’s the score here, whatya got?” Savage asked.

“We’re down a run, 6-5, Brennaman replied.

“Does, uh, Marge need a pinch-hitter here or something? You know I’m ready!” Savage said.

Aware they were in the presence of wrestling royalty, fans and some Reds players started pointing toward Savage and cheering. Eric Davis flexed his muscles at him. But team owner Marge Schott was not thrilled and ordered Savage to be ejected from the booth.

7. Fire forces fans to evacuate seating area
May 15, 2015

As the Reds endured a 10-2 loss to the Giants, flames shot up from one of Great American Ball Park's "Power Stacks" beyond the fence in right-center field on the second pitch of a sixth-inning at-bat for Casey McGehee against Michael Lorenzen. The stacks usually display a surge of fire after a Reds pitcher records a strikeout, and they shoot a round of fireworks after a Reds hitter homers.

Two batters later, Grégor Blanco was up when those fireworks shot from both stacks in the middle of his at-bat. It seemed like just a glitch, at least until uncontrolled flames and smoke rose from the top of the right smokestack. After only a brief holdup, play continued even as the Cincinnati Fire Department arrived to put out the blaze, and the seating area near the stacks was evacuated. A failed propane valve was the cause of the fire, according to the Reds, and the smokestacks attendant emptied the system of all fireworks. The Reds appeared to have a sense of humor about the incident, as some of the between-innings music later included "We Didn't Start the Fire," by Billy Joel.

8. Votto becomes a Canadian Mountie
April 9, 2014

In one of the more unexpectedly funny interviews done on MLB Network, Votto appeared in full Canadian Mountie uniform from Busch Stadium in St. Louis on “Intentional Talk.” Looking to pay back Chris Rose and Kevin Millar for photoshopping him onto a Mountie look during a past segment, the Toronto native took it to another level entirely by never breaking character as a stern member of the Canadian law enforcement. If there was one takeaway from the nine-minute exchange, it was discussion of Votto’s trusty horse, “Nibbles.”