Within weeks of the Jose Fernandez celebration, the Braves had another confrontation with Carlos Gomez. Gomez’s was a bit more dramatic than Fernandez’s; in addition to bat flipping and watching the ball, he talked some trash around the bases and had a confrontation with the catcher before even touching home plate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAxJunWPDdg

I’ve always been a big embracer of home run celebrations, but I think we can admit that shouting at the pitcher is a little too much.

In 2013, rookie Jose Fernandez with his godly 2.19 ERA was making one of his last starts of the season. To put an exclamation mark to his phenomenal rookie season, Fernandez hit his first career home run. He admired the shot, which the Braves took exception to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6OxpsF4aNw

This home run played a big role in the recent talks of baseball etiquette. How much should hitters celebrate? Should rookies be celebrating? Should pitchers be celebrating?

Yes, I understand that this is the third straight mention of a 1995 homer, but apparently ‘95 was just a really good year for celebrating. The player with over 600 home runs had one of his finer moments earlier in his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvKyJslo-G4

Also an excuse to link one of my favorite plays of all time.

Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS for the other divisions had some nice power displays too. Fans already saw a pretty classic home run celebration by Albert Belle. Sadly there’s no video footage available, but we have this great photo of him flexing after hitting a home run.

The man in the left of the picture ended the game later that day with a more memorable play. Players nowadays should take some notes on how to properly flip a bat like that. Side note: Can we get Bob Costas and Bob Uecker together again?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyC4myYv5IU

One of the most clutch homers of all time. The Dodgers were leading 5-4 in the 9th, about to force a Game 7 in the 1985 NLCS. With runners on second and third, first base was open to intentionally walk Jack Clark. The Dodgers contemplated walking him, but did they?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCG5krQPyXQ

No, and they paid for it. Clark spent his time down first base pointing to his dugout as a “you’re welcome” for sealing the win to the World Series. The rest was a very slow trot as if to remind the Dodgers not to disrespect him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G_GruRg3V8

The historical performance is one that needs to be noted; this home run tied the game in the bottom of the 14th of Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS. When this was hit, it was closest the Astros ever were to the World Series (besides five innings earlier when they had a 3-0 lead in the 9th, about to force a Game 7). Either way, with the game now tied, it eventually ended in the 16th in probably the most back-and-forth game of all time.

Billy Hatcher started a new move by doing a moonwalk down first base.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74HUKpgy_GQ

The great Puerto Rican had no problem helping the Yanks be the first Wild Card team ever in 1995. With this homer that helped a Game 1 victory, Sierra brought a more “pimpish” element to it with collar popping and side step.

That’s Mr. October

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXCnp8OHKDg

Reggie Jackson has hit bigger home runs in his career. Of course Reggie’s “two homers, one more to go” and the curtain calls in 1977 were a classic celebration…

But nothing was cooler than Reggie standing at home plate, smiling knowing that he just blasted it into the upper deck. That game, the Yanks won to move on to the World Series.