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About the Museum
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), and the Hoax Forum.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), and the Hoax Forum.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.Prankplace.com
FUNNY T-SHIRTSBrowse our top quality t-shirts, and you are guaranteed to find one perfect for you, or to give as a funny gift to a friend or family member. Our shirts come in your choice of sizes, most are available in Medium, Large, XL, 2XL and 3XL.
THE TOILET MONSTERYour wife will never yell at you about leaving the seat up again! The Toilet Monster attaches to the inside of the toilet bowl by suction cups. As the unsuspecting person goes to use the bathroom, they'll scream as they lift the lid and are greeted by the Toilet Monster! Not recommended for the elderly or those with a weak heart.
#2: Sidd Finch
1985: Sports Illustrated published a story about a new rookie pitcher who planned to play for the Mets. His name was Sidd Finch, and he could reportedly throw a baseball at 168 mph with pinpoint accuracy. This was 65 mph faster than the previous record. Surprisingly, Sidd Finch had never even played the game before. Instead, he had mastered the "art of the pitch" in a Tibetan monastery under the guidance of the "great poet-saint Lama Milaraspa." Mets fans celebrated their teams' amazing luck at having found such a gifted player, and Sports Illustrated was flooded with requests for more information. In reality this legendary player only existed in the imagination of the author of the article, George Plimpton.
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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The story popped into my mind tonite. Can I remember the guy's name? Yep! Sidd Finch. What a funny story. Ha! Ha! It still makes me laugh every now and then. Ok, I'll google it. Wow! I did not know that this many people remember the story. It's neat. Long live Sidd!
Posted by GERALD TALMADGE BRADDOCK, ESQ. in Jackson, MS, USA on Sun Sep 17, 2006 at 12:16 AM
In 1994, while operating a small driving range and golf course in Fort Worth, Texas I became friends of the cousin of an employee who was a top-shelf amateur golfer. He was also a country boy as plain as a dozen eggs. Some of you may remember Robert Landers who earned his Senior PGA card in 1994. He played in a flannel shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. He looked no more like a golf pro than Snuffy Smith.
Why do I post this here? I started calling media, any media, trying to get him some publicity because I knew it would result in some much needed money for my friend. I had called Sports Illustrated several times and could not get anyone to take a call and hear my story. So, I called the next consequitive number I had been given hoping it would be somebody else at the magazine who would listen. It was answered by someone who sounded older than previously, and I asked how long he had been with Sports Illustrated, he said a long time. I asked, "You remember Sidd Finch?" He said of course, I said, "Would you give me five minutes to tell you a story if I swear to God I know a real one?" He said sure.
Robert finished sixth and earned his card. Sports Illustrated was there and did a feature story in the Feb. '95 issue. Robert got his 15 minutes of fame and I also got to help him sign an endorsement deal with Dickies for over $60, 000.00 More than he ever made in his life.
Turns out Sidd was real after all.
Posted by Steve Champion in Western KY on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 09:24 PM
While the hoax was realistic, our report on him is a spoof, telling that he has just signed with the Mets and that he could now pitch a ball at 300 mph.
Posted by Oliver Wood in Bodoni, San Seriffe on Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 02:00 PM
Larry Dierker has a spring training story that springs from this. Plimpton had the catchers training to catch Finch by catching baseballs dropped from a helicopter. Larry writes of some player actually trying this, but instead of a baseball, they substituted a grapefruit. When the catcher caught it, it exploded and the catcher, with a face full of hot stickeyness, thought he'd been killed.
Posted by Brad C Dean on Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 09:34 PM
"When your mind is empty like a canyon, then you shall know the way.'
Sidd Finch
Posted by Dave Funk on Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 02:56 AM
I'll never forget reading that Sidd Finch piece. I was totally taken in. As a Cardinals fan, all I could think was, "Why the damn Mets?"
Posted by Wayne in San Francisco on Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 08:16 AM
I too, bought this story, hook, line and sinker!
And as a Pirates fan, I too, was disturbed that it was The Mets, who lucked out by "getting" him!
I think about this story every April Fools Day! You've left a lasting impression George!
Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh on Sun Apr 01, 2007 at 12:01 PM
I was puzzled. If the guy throws that hard, shouldn't he be a quarterback too? Why isn't he on the javelin team? How could the Mets hide this kind of secret with fans and opponents having seen him? Why isn't there more news about this? Why aren't the medical journals reporting this? Is Dr. Jobe performing more mad science tricks in his lab across town? But why not for the Dodgers? Just didn't add up. In retrospect, perhaps this was the inspiration for that movie with the kid who breaks his arm and becomes a medical freak with some kind of 'tight muscle' issue.
Posted by Dr. Filo Mall in Los Angeles on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 04:20 AM
It's way cool to see some other people who went to Hawthorne (now Percy Julian). I got to meet the (in)famous Sidd Finch, although sadly I never got to take one of his classes. Still, it was a very cool thing indeed.
Posted by E. Dominick on Sat Apr 28, 2007 at 10:04 PM
if you think the article is a masterful hoax, just think of it's effect on the sales of plimpton's novel the curious case of finch which he published not too long after the SI report. brilliant marketing....will really miss that guy, he was a true protaganist...
Posted by Sunil on Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 04:12 PM
Hey I remember reading the Sid Finch as a college freshmen thinking, OMG, this guy will rule. Eventually I figured out it was an April Fool's prank.
Posted by milo in berkeley CA on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I do remember this great SI story because I too was a Jr Hi student of the infamous Sidd Finch. He was my woodshop teacher. Ironically, I remember the picture with his bare foot and lanky big toe but I don't remember his real name. Mr. Burton maybe. Oh the glory days of Jr. Hi in the early eighties. It's memories make me smile.
Posted by Scott Moffatt in Jacksonville, FL on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 05:52 AM
actually the sub heading of the article says "happy april fools day a fib" if you just look at the first letter of every word
Posted by James on Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 02:55 PM
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