Celebrations are so engrained in the history and culture of baseball that the first ever recorded high five came after a Dusty Baker home run in 1977. Joy is baked right into the soil of the diamond.
Great traditions and celebrations also include the likes of the “Bash Brothers” — Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco — smashing meaty forearms after a homer, players spraying champagne on teammates after clinching a playoff berth, and even Ozzie Smith’s beautiful backflip. But as the modern game embraces a louder, more expressive era, a critical line is beginning to blur. There is a fundamental difference between celebrating with your teammates and hotdogging at your opponent. One builds the game up; the other tears sportsmanship down.
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