For over a century of baseball, a home run looked something like this: A ball was hit over the fence, and its author jogged quickly around the bases with his head down so as not to show up the pitcher.
Now, home runs are exclamation points, bat flips and fiestas on the base paths. And the party doesn’t stop when home plate is touched. The fun extends to the dugout, where the homering player’s teammates are waiting to revel in the glory of going yard.
While there may be some hand-wringing about celebrating home runs during the sojourn around the bases, I think nearly everyone can agree on one thing: these dugout home run celebrations are enjoyable.
In recent years, the dugout shindigs have gifted us with all sorts of wacky props, costumes, helmets and even oversized hats.
And they get better each year. Here are the best home run celebrations of the 2026 season so far.
10. Red Sox’ Wally mask
The brain child of Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, the Wally mask is a shout-out to Boston's mascot, Wally the Green Monster. The celebration debuted last April but was a hit among the Red Sox, so they decided to run it back for 2026.
9. Blue Jays’ homer jacket
Another oldie but goodie is the Blue Jays' home run jacket, which dates back to 2021, when star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and interpreter Hector Lebron sought to celebrate the multicutural roots in the clubhouse. The phrase on the jacket, La Gente del Barrio, translates to the neighborhood people.
8. Mariners’ trident
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This is the fourth season the Mariners have hoisted the six-and-a-half foot, nearly 30-pound trident in the dugout after home runs, but the celebration still doesn’t feel old.
The massive trident is a metal replica from the 2018 Aquaman movie, and evidently the Mariners’ then-utility Sam Haggerty spared no expense to purchase it.
Who says money can’t buy happiness?
7. Astros’ cowboy hat
This ode to Texas from the Astros is simple, yet effective: a blue-and-orange cowboy hat with the Astros logo on the front. To actually purchase the Astros’ cowboy hat? The team’s catcher Christian Vázquez paid $50 for it, according to MLB.com.
To actually use it as a home run celebration? Priceless.
6. Braves’ tomahawk bat
While it’s not quite the short-lived, big hat homer celebration from the 2023 season, the tomahawk bat is still fun.
The tomahawk bat is a red bat with a yellow handle and blue quasi-axe attached to the barrel. Each homering Braves player grabs the two tomahawk bats, which are a nod to both the team’s color and nickname, as he strolls through the dugout after going yard.
5. Mets’ Spider-Man mask
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The Guardians party like it’s the 11th century every time they hit a home run in 2026. The heroic homering Guardian, upon returning to the dugout, dons ye olde knight helmet, which was bought by Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Should the Guardians win, the homering player is then “knighted” with a real, blunt sword, purchased by first baseman Kyle Manzardo.
The helmet and sword were inspired by a spring training group outing to Medieval Times in Scottsdale, Ariz. The trip, coordinated by Guardians catcher Austin Hedges, featured players dressed up as knights and wizards.
As a result, the Guardians now have a home run celebration that would make Sir Lancelot proud.
Huzzah!
1. Pirates’ welding helmet
The Pirates didn’t wait long to introduce the world to their new home run celebration for 2026, as new acquisition Brandon Lowe belted a two-run shot in the top of the first inning on Opening Day vs. the Mets, then received an interesting piece of headgear in the dugout: a welder’s mask.
The Pirates are using a steel mill worker's welding helmet as their home run celebration for this season pic.twitter.com/AAN30UTrQw
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 26, 2026
And it’s not just any welder’s mask, but an actual steelworker’s welder’s mask. According to MLB.com, the mask belonged to a man named Dave Stephenson, who has been employed as an ironworker at an Allegheny County plant for the past 22 years.
“Eventually we thought, ‘OK, what’s more Pittsburgh than a welder’s mask?’ ” Pirates outfielder Ryan O'Hearn said.
Indeed.
