MLB’s All-Time Greatest Sports Prank: The Phillies’ Kyle Kendrick Tricked into Thinking He Was Being Sent to Japan

As April Fool’s Day draws near, pranksters around the globe are readying themselves to play some harmless tricks in honor of the holiday. One fantasy sports publication, Rotowire, recently looked back on some of the best sports pranks in history.

One of the top pranks featured in the round-up was when former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick was fooled into believing he was being traded to Japan. The prank was orchestrated by Phillies pitcher Brett Myers, who enlisted the help of multiple people within the organization, including the team’s manager and general manager. Even the media got in on the gag, with Kendrick eventually being informed that it was all a joke. Despite the truth coming out, Kendrick still considers it the greatest prank in MLB history, with MLB Network ranking it as the number one prank of all time.

Other pranks highlighted in the Rotowire list include a rookie Los Angeles Lakers player claiming he was going on a date with actress Lucy Liu and Charles Barkley being tricked by a Japanese reporter. These pranks added some light-hearted fun to the world of sports, reminding us that even in competitive environments, there is always room for a good laugh.