Major League Baseball

Randy Johnson bird homage and more of the best baseball Halloween costumes

Updated Oct. 31, 2023 7:01 p.m. ET

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There's no need to search for the "best Halloween costume of 2023" anymore, the contest is over. 

Prior to World Series Game 2, a couple went viral on social media after paying homage to Randy Johnson's infamous bird incident with their costumes.

The photo portrayed a former professional pitcher turned comedian Reece Green dressed from head-to-toe in a retro Arizona Diamondbacks uniform with Johnson's No. 51 and his girlfriend next to him covered in bird feathers decorated with fake blood as her costume.

Green elaborated on his idea during an appearance on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast, co-hosted by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly. He said it came to after some of his fellow comics called him a "young Randy Johnson" — but had to explain the context of the costume idea to his girlfriend.

The joint costumes took several months to prepare, making it a happy coincidence that they pulled off the costume while the Diamondbacks reached the World Series for the first time since 2001.

Johnson's incident occurred during that same 2001 season in his tenure as Arizona's ace, when he remarkably struck a bird in midair while warming up for a spring training game. 

Coincidentally, Zac Gallen also accomplished a similar feat this year, which means the D-backs have successfully made the Fall Classic in each season that a starting pitcher accidentally plunked a bird. 

They were not the only impressive Diamondbacks-related World Series photos. Current Arizona outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. warmed up before Tuesday's World Series Game 4 in a Jason mask from the Halloween film series, while just down the road, Arizona State's baseball team got into the action with a costume-filled scrimmage that went viral Monday.

Not to be outdone, several members of the Texas Rangers — Arizona's World Series opponent — got their families involved in some adorable themed costumes, including one of manager Bruce Bochy's grandson dressed up as his legendary grandfather.

Several MLB fans also got into the Halloween spirit!

Game 4 of the 2023 World Series begins at 8:03 p.m. ET Tuesday on FOX and the FOX Sports App. The Rangers currently have a 2-1 lead in the series.

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