Torii Hunter and Other Great Baseball Meltdowns

— -- Minnesota Twins player Torii Hunter's outburst Wednesday night may have been one for the ages, but he has plenty of competition when it comes to the greatest baseball meltdowns of all time.

Hunter, an outfielder, became enraged by a called third strike during the game at Target Field in Minneapolis against the Kansas City Royals. He completely lost it, along with some of his clothing.

Here's more about five of some of professional baseball's greatest meltdowns:

1. Torii Hunter

Hunter began arguing with the umpire until he was ejected from the game. But stomping off the field wasn't enough for Hunter, who proceeded to strip off his gear and clothes and toss them around the field.

2. Lou Piniella kicks dirt onto ump, throws bases

Fiery manager Lou Piniella wasn't afraid to show officials how he felt when he disagreed with calls. For his first ejection as the Chicago Cubs manager June 2, 2007, Piniella was furious over a call at third base at Wrigley Field against the Atlanta Braves. Piniella raced toward the ump who made the call and throws off his hat. He proceeded to kick dirt onto the feet of the ump when taking breaks from screaming in his face and kicking his hat in the air.

Piniella's other famous episodes include throwing a base as the Cincinnati Reds manager in the early 1990s and tossing first base as the Seattle Mariners' manager in September 2002, with some good dirt- and hat-kicking for good measure.

3. Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon carries first base

On June 26, 2001, Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon was furious at an umpire's call and walked off the field with first base in Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

4. The "pine tar incident"

As former American League president Lee MacPhail from 1974 to 1984 says in an MLB.com video, players couldn't have pine tar on the bat above a certain point because it was ruining baseballs.

When the Kansas City Royals played the New York Yankees July 24, 1983, at Yankee Stadium, the Royals' George Brett hit a two-run homerun, giving the Yankees the lead. But Yankees manager Billy Martin requested that the umpires inspect Brett's bat. The umpires ruled that the pine tar was excessive and wouldn't acknowledge the home run. Brett erupted in anger from the dugout and charged the ump.

5. Baltimore Orioles Earl Weaver has two-minute tirade with umpire

Weaver's tirade against umpire Bill Haller on Sept. 17, 1980, during the Orioles' home game against the Detroit Tigers, is possibly the most epic because every profanity was recorded. Haller was wearing a microphone reportedly for a documentary about being an umpire. The expletive-laden argument includes accusations that the ump pushed his finger at Weaver, and Weaver’s saying "You're a big liar," "No, you are," and so forth.