Cincinnati Reds Retire Viking Helmet Home Run Celebration, Replace With Secret Celly

Published|Updated

Last season, the Cincinnati Reds came up with one of the most unique home run celebrations in Major League Baseball. Following a trip around the bases, Reds players were given a cape and a Viking helmet to mark the occasion. 

It was fun, and Reds fans loved it.

But, the team has decided to move on from the helmet. According to reporter Jim Day, Reds players elected to make the change sometime in the past week. That might have had something to do with a stretch of terrible play, including an offense that struggled to generate runs. 

Instead, teammates will secretly celebrate in the team's tunnel, out of view of fans. 

The Reds social media team confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter). 

The Reds started the season 14-10, but then went 6-20 from April 25 to May 23. That stretch included an eight-game losing streak. The team ranks 29th out of 30 MLB teams in batting average and 28th in OPS. 

It's unclear when the Reds officially retired the helmet, but Cincinnati is on its first four-game winning streak of the season. They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend and then defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of a three-game series Monday. 

Cincinnati Reds players have decided to no longer do Viking helmet home run celebration, instead will celebrate secretly in team tunnel.

Cincinnati Reds players have decided to no longer do Viking helmet home run celebration, instead will celebrate secretly in team tunnel.

(Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports)

However, the winning streak has had more to do with the Reds pitching than its offense. Yes, they scored 9 runs in the series-opening win over the Dodgers on Friday, but over the past three games, the pitching staff has surrendered just three total runs (one in each game). The Reds have scored 11 runs in those games. 

Still, baseball is a heavily superstitious sport and an extended losing streak leading to the team making a change that has nothing to do with baseball is not out of the ordinary. 

Fans paid their respects on social media. 

RIP, Viking helmet. 

Tags
Written by

Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.