The 20 Worst Trades In Pro Sports History

By Chris Ross

The 20 Worst Trades in Sports History

Babe Ruth intro — In the history of sports, there have been plenty of lopsided and head-scratching trades. In every sport, there are dozens of trades that just didn’t make sense for one or more of the teams involved. Here are the 20 worst trades in sports history.

20. Bucks Trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles Lakers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Copy

20. Bucks Trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles Lakers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is perhaps the best player to ever wear a Milwaukee Bucks jersey. However, he requested to be traded from the team in the end. The Bucks got a few solid pieces in return for Abdul-Jabbar, but when you trade a player of his caliber, it’s always a bad trade.

19. Baltimore Orioles Trade Curt Schilling, Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch to Houston Astros

Curt Schilling

19. Baltimore Orioles Trade Curt Schilling, Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch to Houston Astros

Curt Schilling - Copy — When the Baltimore Orioles traded Curt Schilling, Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch to the Astros in return for Glenn Davis, it looked like a good trade for both teams. However, Davis imploded once he reached the Orioles, while Schilling, Finley and Harnisch all experienced varying degrees of success with the Astros.

18. St. Louis Hawks Trade Bill Russell to Boston Celtics

Bill Russell - Copy

18. St. Louis Hawks Trade Bill Russell to Boston Celtics

Bill Russell — Bill Russell was first drafted by the St. Louis Hawks, but the Celtics were willing to do whatever it took to get Russell.The Celtics had to give up Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan, but both went on to implode in St. Louis while Russell led the Celtics to championships.

17. Indianapolis Colts Trade Marshall Faulk to Los Angeles Rams

Marshall Faulk

17. Indianapolis Colts Trade Marshall Faulk to Los Angeles Rams

Marshall Faulk - Copy — Despite the fact that Marshall Faulk was one of the best running backs in the NFL during his time with the Indianapolis Colts, the team still decided to trade him because of just one down year. The Colts got a second and fifth-round pick, but the Rams got an all-time great.

16. New York Mets Trade Nolan Ryan to California Angels

Nolan Ryan

16. New York Mets Trade Nolan Ryan to California Angels

Nolan Ryan - Copy — In what was one of the worst deals in Mets history, the team traded away Nolan Ryan, Francisco Estrada and Leroy Stanton for Jim Fregosi. Ryan became one of the best pitchers in league history, while Fregosi was a total flop for the Mets.

15. Golden State Warriors Trade Wilt Chamberlain to Philadelphia 76ers

Wilt Chamberlain

15. Golden State Warriors Trade Wilt Chamberlain to Philadelphia 76ers

Wilt Chamberlain - Copy — When the Golden State Warriors traded away the great Wilt Chamberlain to the Philadelphia 76ers, it was one of the worst days in franchise history. The Warriors got a few average players, while the 76ers got an elite talent.

14. Chicago Cubs Trade Lou Brock to St. Louis Cardinals

Lou Brock

14. Chicago Cubs Trade Lou Brock to St. Louis Cardinals

Lou Brock - Copy — When the Cubs first traded Lou Brock to the Cardinals, the deal was thought to be a great one for the Cubs as Brock had failed to do anything of note. Unfortunately for the Cubs, Brock would go on to have an amazing career as a member of the Cardinals.

13. Vancouver Canucks Trade Cam Neely to Boston Bruins

Cam Neely

13. Vancouver Canucks Trade Cam Neely to Boston Bruins

Cam Neely - Copy — Cam Neely was traded, along with a first-round selection, to the Boston Bruins back in 1987, and that’s a move that the Vancouver Canucks regretted quickly. Neely became one of the best wings in the league, while the Canucks thought about what could have been.

12. Boston Red Sox Trade Jeff Bagwell to Houston Astros

Jeff Bagwell

12. Boston Red Sox Trade Jeff Bagwell to Houston Astros

Jeff Bagwell - Copy — Traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Larry Andersen, Jeff Bagwell made Boston regret ever trading him. Bagwell went on to have a great career with the Astros, and is perhaps the best player in the franchise’s history.

11. White Sox Trade Sammy Sosa to Chicago Cubs

Sammy Sosa - Copy

11. White Sox Trade Sammy Sosa to Chicago Cubs

Sammy Sosa - Copy — Steroids questions aside, the White Sox' decision to trade Sammy Sosa to the Chicago Cubs was a head-scratching move. Sosa went on to be a very valuable member of the Cubs’ lineup, while the White Sox looked for a player like Sosa to add to their lineup.

10. Minnesota Vikings Give Up Future For Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker - Copy

10. Minnesota Vikings Give Up Future For Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker - Copy — Although Herschel Walker was a star when the Minnesota Vikings traded for him, the team gave up too much for a guy that failed to give them a 1,000-yard season. The Vikings gave up five players and six draft picks for a running back past his prime.

9. Seattle SuperSonics Trade Scottie Pippen to Chicago Bulls

Scottie Pippen - Copy

9. Seattle SuperSonics Trade Scottie Pippen to Chicago Bulls

Scottie Pippen - Copy — Drafted at No. 5 overall in 1987 then traded to the Chicago Bulls, Scottie Pippen soon made the SuperSonics look foolish for trading him. Pippen went on to win multiple championships, while the SuperSonics struggled.

8. Portland Trail Blazers Trade Moses Malone to Buffalo Braves

Moses Malone - Copy

8. Portland Trail Blazers Trade Moses Malone to Buffalo Braves

Moses Malone - Copy — After being traded to the Buffalo Braves for a first-round pick, Moses Malone was then traded to the Houston Rockets for two first-round picks. Eventually, however, Malone made both teams look foolish for trading him, as he became one of the best in league history.

7. Atlanta Falcons Trade Brett Favre to Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre - Copy

7. Atlanta Falcons Trade Brett Favre to Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre — Traded to the Green Bay Packers for the price of a first-round pick, Brett Favre went on to become one of the NFL’s all-time greats. Favre won a championship with Green Bay while Atlanta remained bottom-feeders.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers Trade Pedro Martinez to Montreal Expos

Pedro Martinez - Copy

6. Los Angeles Dodgers Trade Pedro Martinez to Montreal Expos

Pedro Martinez - Copy — Pedro Martinez is one of the best pitchers in MLB history, so it’s easy to see why the Dodgers were wrong to trade him to Montreal. Martinez went on to become an elite pitcher, while the Dodgers came away with basically nothing.

5. Cincinnati Reds Trade Frank Robinson to Baltimore Orioles

Frank Robinson

5. Cincinnati Reds Trade Frank Robinson to Baltimore Orioles

Frank Robinson - Copy — After being traded due to age concerns, Frank Robinson won the triple crown in his first season after being traded. Meanwhile, the pieces Baltimore gave up to acquire Robinson failed miserably.

4. Golden State Warriors Trade Robert Parrish and No. 3 Overall Pick to Boston Celtics

Robert Parrish

4. Golden State Warriors Trade Robert Parrish and No. 3 Overall Pick to Boston Celtics

Robert Parrish - Copy — The Golden State Warriors traded away Robert Parrish and what would become Kevin McHale for Joe Barry Carroll. Carroll was a decent player, but the Warriors gave up two greats to get him.

3. Baltimore Colts Trade John Elway to Denver Broncos

John Elway - Copy

3. Baltimore Colts Trade John Elway to Denver Broncos

John Elway - Copy — Despite being drafted first overall by the Baltimore Colts, John Elway refused to play for the team and eventually forced his way into Denver. It worked out well for Elway and the Broncos, but not so well for the Colts.

2. New Jersey Nets Trade Julius Erving to Philadelphia 76ers

Julius Erving slam dunk

2. New Jersey Nets Trade Julius Erving to Philadelphia 76ers

Julius Erving slam dunk — Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers due to disagreements over money, Julius Erving instantly made the 76ers a title contender, while his departure dashed New Jersey’s championship hopes.

1. Red Sox Sell Babe Ruth to New York Yankees

Babe Ruth - Copy

1. Red Sox Sell Babe Ruth to New York Yankees

Babe Ruth - Copy — This is easily the most lopsided trade in the history of sports. The Red Sox essentially gave away the best player in baseball for nothing, and that’s a move that came back to haunt them.

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