The Most Notorious Giveaways, Stunts, and Spectacles in Baseball History

A few days after Eddie Gaedel’s famous plate appearance, the Browns tried a stunt that was less noisy but almost just as strange. Instead of simply watching from the seats, selected fans at Sportsman’s Park were allowed to help manage the team against the Philadelphia Athletics. They used yes-or-no placards to vote on real decisions, while manager Zack Taylor enjoyed the show from nearby, relaxed enough to make the whole thing feel like a front-porch baseball argument brought to life. The remarkable part is that the crowd did not embarrass itself. St. Louis won 5-3, and many of the fans’ choices were sensible enough to make the promotion feel more charming than disastrous.