Ranked: The most hated players in MLB history

There have been a boatload of players throughout baseball history who have drawn the ire of fans. Some of the vitriol has withstood the test of time, as their attitude or actions on the field turned people off in a major way. We’ve powered ranked the top 15 most hated players in MLB history, starting with…

It doesn’t seem like Arenado is ever in a good mood. Whether it was arguing with a Colorado Rockies teammate in 2016, or inciting bench-clearing fights throughout his career, Arenado seems to be ticked off more than most of his current peers. Arenado told Denver 7 in 2020, “I play hard, I keep my mouth shut. But I can only get crossed so many times.”

Everett was a talented player with an admirable big league career, but he never spent more than three years with one team. Former ESPN analyst and MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan once called him “hard-headed,” according to The New York Post. Perhaps that description was never more accurate than during the 2000 season, when Everett headbutted an umpire, which earned him a 10 game suspension.

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To say that Henderson was a showman was an understatement. He often referred to himself in the third person, seemingly knowing that his rare combination of speed and power was a treat for everyone. As Ray Ratto of Defector’s website wrote, “Rickey Henderson… was not merely arrogant and justifiably so, but the next step beyond merely arrogant.” This supreme confidence sometimes rubbed people the wrong way.

As Michael Duarte of NBC Los Angeles wrote in the summer of 2022, Machado was chosen as “the most hated player in MLB” at that time. In October 2024, there was a controversy involving Machado throwing a ball in the area of the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout, perhaps with the intent to hit his former manager, Dave Roberts. Roberts said, “if it was intended at me, it’s pretty disrespectful.”

As ESPN covered around 2000, Cobb himself said, “In legend I am a sadistic, slashing, swashbuckling despot who waged war in the guise of sport.” Alrighty then. According to the piece and multiple other sources, Cobb had strained relationships with teammates, opponents, and pretty much anyone he came across. ESPN wrote that only four people from Cobb’s MLB days attended his funeral.

Speaking of sharp-tongued players, Rocker got himself into a lot of trouble in 1999 during an interview with Sports Illustrated. He made comments about several ethnic groups in society, and had demeaning comments about people who rode the train to New York Mets games. Rocker experienced vociferous boos from New York crowds and around the league after that interview.

Former Cleveland Guardians coach Dave Nelson said to ESPN, “Albert’s snapped at me. He’s gone off at other coaches. You never know which Albert’s going to show up.” In 1996, Belle snapped at Milwaukee Brewers infielder Fernando Vina. Belle, who was a mammoth of a human being during his playing days, sent Vina into the next zip code with a nasty forearm shiver. To this day, it’s one of the most shocking plays in MLB history.

Michael Chabon of The New York Times wrote in 2005 that “Canseco is greedy, faithless, selfish, embittered, scornful and everlastingly a showboat.” Many baseball fans agree with that sentiment, as Canseco became the whistleblower of steroid use in the sport after his playing days were over. He became relevant again due to his willingness to call out other MLB stars.

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Rose was banned from MLB in 1989 for gambling on the Cincinnati Reds team that he managed. He was never reinstated for the rest of his life, as the decision to wager on the game and compromise the sport’s integrity haunted him forever. Rose is one of the greatest hitters of all time, but also pushed the envelope on the field by running over catchers at home plate.

Altuve has had one of the strangest MLB careers. His stature and achievements once made him a likeable underdog, but that perception was ruined after the Houston Astros cheating scandal of 2017 came to light. ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote in October 2023 about the “boos and hisses, the anger and loathing, the emotion his mere existence conjures.”

Canseco dragged McGwire’s name through the mud, telling the world that the latter’s home run power was fueled by steroids. McGwire told Complex about Canseco, “It’s too late. I don’t care to ever speak with him again. What he did was wrong.” McGwire drew fans’ ire when he infamously gave an interview saying he “wasn’t here to talk about the past” when asked about his prior steroid use.

Clemens made a lot of people upset during and after his MLB career. Boston Red Sox fans were angry at him for signing with the New York Yankees later in his career. New York Mets fans were peeved that he threw a piece of a broken bat back at Mike Piazza. Clemens also told the United States government that former teammate Andy Pettitte “misremembered” a conversation about performance enhancing drugs.

Netflix’s documentary about the 2003 and 2004 Boston Red Sox perfectly captured the strong feelings players and fans had towards Martinez. They might have been justified, as Martinez openly admitted to throwing at hitters when he felt he had to protect his teammates. Some of those beanballs resulted in injuries that Martinez seemed to have little remorse for.

Rodriguez was a poster child for vitriol of fans during the 2000s and 2010s. At the time, he signed the most lucrative contract in MLB history, and later admitted to using steroids. He promised he wouldn’t use them again, but then tested positive later in his career. Rodriguez also drew the ire of fans by slapping the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove during the 2004 ALCS.

Adam Altenbach of Medium wrote, “What happens when someone suddenly destroys the sport and becomes a villain around the world?” That was in reference to the career arc of Bonds, who was already destined to make the Hall of Fame. Bonds’ physique became more powerful, and a shocking appearance change led him to become baseball’s home run king. Baseball fans never forgave him for appearing to cheat his way to the top.

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