As part of our celebration of America 250, MLB’s content team has created 25 top 10 lists that capture the plays, people, rituals and moments that make baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.
1. Blue Jays fan makes Yankees fan’s day
May 2, 2022, Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Catching a home run ball is as exciting as it gets, albeit less so when the opposing team hits it. But one Blue Jays fan used that moment as a chance to make a young Yankees fan’s day. The Jays fan picked up an Aaron Judge homer, briefly celebrated and then handed the souvenir to the youngster, who was wearing a Judge shirt. In return, the kid offered a big hug and some tears of joy. The pair even got to meet Judge the next day.
2. Mangum fans get a ball, hug it out
April 19, 2026, Rays vs. Pirates
First-year Pirate Jake Mangum made some life-long fans just a few weeks into his Pittsburgh tenure. He tossed a warmup ball to a young fan in the left-field stands of PNC Park. After making a nice catch, the boy handed the ball to a young girl beside him — perhaps his sister or a friend — who happened to be wearing a Mangum jersey. What followed was an embrace that’s sure to melt your heart.
3. Ichiro Girl
July 8, 2010, Yankees vs. Mariners
Who wouldn’t be starstruck by an encounter with Ichiro Suzuki? The viral “Ichiro Girl” certainly was in 2010, when Ichiro chased a foul ball and almost landed in her lap while reaching over the wall. Her exuberance earned a full-circle moment later, too, as the girl was asked to throw the first pitch at a 2022 game. The M’s surprised her by having Ichiro catch, causing another elated meet-up.
4. Cutch gifts his gloves
May 30, 2015, Pirates vs. Padres
Andrew McCutchen, at the start of his fifth consecutive All-Star season, homered to help the Pirates beat the Padres for their eighth win in nine games. Then he made lifelong memories for some Buccos fans in the outfield stands. McCutchen gifted the young fans with his batting gloves, and they gave a fittingly raucous reaction afterward.
5. ‘It’s his birthday!’
June 30, 2025, Cardinals vs. Pirates
We might be biased, but there are few better ways to spend your birthday than a trip to the ballpark. Even better is leaving with a souvenir. Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds delivered that for one lucky fan, whose friends gave him an assist by yelling, “It’s his birthday!” until Reynolds noticed. Reynolds tossed the ball, and the birthday boy made the catch, adding a “Let’s go!” for good measure.
6. Here comes the pizza!
April 16, 2007 vs. Angels
The Red Sox and Patriots’ Day go hand-in-hand. So, too, do Patriots’ Day, the Red Sox and the 2007 pizza chucker. As one Boston fan lost his drink in an attempt to catch a foul ball at the wall, he gained a splotch of pizza sauce on his shoulder, courtesy of another fan a few seats away. The moment has lived in infamy, in part thanks to broadcaster Jerry Remy’s iconic call: “Boom, here comes the pizza!”
7. Turtle toss
May 2023, Guardians vs. White Sox
As then-White Sox broadcaster Jason Benetti pointed out, Michelangelo was always the most playful of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So of course a young fan in a Michelangelo costume had some shenanigans up his sleeve at a White Sox game. After receiving the lucky honor of a souvenir ball, the fan decided to chuck it back toward the field, leaving some shock on his parents’ faces.
8. Donnie popcorn
Sept. 16, 1992, White Sox vs. Yankees
Donnie Baseball was a nine-time Gold Glover in his illustrious career, but there were still balls he could never get to, like one several rows into the stands off the first-base side. That didn’t stop him from giving chase, and when he was resigned to not making the play, he took his chance to refuel. Mattingly reached into a young fan’s popcorn bucket for an in-game snack. Delicious!
9. The ‘Bro Explaining’ meme
Likely June 7, 2011, Astros vs. Cardinals
Baseball has given us so many excellent memes over the years, but few are as recognizable across the internet as this one. This Astros fan clearly was in the middle of a very important and interesting story — hand gesturing to boot — when a now-iconic photo was captured. Next time you need to make a “So here’s the thing” type of point, keep this one in your back pocket.
10. Tarps off!
Various stadiums in 2026
It may be new, but few things have swept MLB quite like the Tarps Off movement in 2026. Rowdy fans have taken their shirts off at sporting events for ages, but this particular infectious display probably gets its origins from college football in recent years. Some MLB parks now even have dedicated Tarps Off sections. Keep an eye out … what might start small could occupy a whole section by night’s end.
Journey’s Steve Perry leading San Francisco crowd in “Don’t Stop Believin'”: Watch >
Pirates fans’ “Cueto” chant at 2013 NL Wild Card Game: Watch >
Muscular fan can’t open water bottle, to Mets broadcast crew’s delight: Watch >
A’s fan catches three foul balls in one inning: Watch >
Fan takes a bite out of reporter’s pork chop: Watch >
