Culture

The 8 Weirdest GIFs From the Weirdest Baseball Game Ever

While MLB’s decision to play the game amid civil unrest is problematic, there were just too many weird moments not to chronicle them.
The defining GIF of the game is without a doubt this Chris Davis toss into the empty firstbase side stands at the end...
The defining GIF of the game is without a doubt this Chris Davis toss into the empty first-base side stands at the end of an inning.The defining image of the game is without a doubt this Chris Davis toss into the empty first-base side stands at the end of an inning.

EMPTY_PAN

Yesterday the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox played the first game in MLB history without fans, who were barred from attending. It was an odd two hours and three minutes of mostly silent sports, as though the contest was part of a videogame instead of, y'know, part of multibillion dollar league. The athletes for the most part kept straight faces, though there was no denying that the weirdness got to them as well. So while there are plenty of socioeconomic implications of MLB’s decision to play the game amid civil unrest while preventing Baltimore fans from attending, there were just too many weird moments not to chronicle them. And here they are.

Orioles Catcher Caleb Joseph mimes signing autographs and waves to imaginary fans before the game.Orioles Catcher Caleb Joseph mimes signing autographs and waves to imaginary fans before the game.
A few scouts, photographers, and other Orioles personnel stood around Camden Yards, but the highest concentration of (unpaid) patrons was located in the Press Box.A few scouts, photographers, and other Orioles personnel stood around Camden Yards, but the highest concentration of (unpaid) patrons was located in the Press Box.
Cameras followed foul balls, but quickly cut back to players on the field so as not to linger on the sea of empty seats.Cameras followed foul balls, but quickly cut back to players on the field so as not to linger on the sea of empty seats.
The game still had ball girls in four territory down the baseline, though instead of tossing grounders into the stands, they just collected the foul balls into buckets.The game still had ball girls in four territory down the baseline, though instead of tossing grounders into the stands, they just collected the foul balls into buckets.
Camera operators still had to find bumper images to begin and end each inning, leading to eerie shots like this one.Camera operators still had to find bumper images to begin and end each inning, leading to eerie shots like this one.
It's okay, fans, you can still watch—just do it from outside.It's okay, fans, you can still watch—just do it from outside.