Top 20 Bad Boys In MLB History

By Pete Schwichtenberg

Top 20 Bad Boys In MLB History

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez — In over a century of baseball, there have been plenty of eccentric characters who have played the game. There were players who were crazy, players who were loved and adored, and others who were hated. Here is a look at the top 20 bad boys in the history of MLB.

20. Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry New York Mets

20. Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry New York Mets — Darryl Strawberry was perhaps one of the most physically talented players in all of baseball, but cocaine issues and playing in baseball's biggest market greatly affected his play. While he settled down later in his career, he is one of the 80's biggest bad boys.

19. Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper Washington Nationals

19. Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper Washington Nationals — While Bryce Harper has extreme talent, at times he is an example of baseball troubles. Although he has yet to earn anything in the league, he has been know to be outspoken, brash and even feuded with his former manager. His selfish attitude is not an example of what a superstar should be.

18. Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth New York Yankees

18. Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth New York Yankees — Babe Ruth changed the way that the game was played on the field, but he was a wreck off the field. Considering his hard drinking ways, it is simply amazing that he was able to remain in the lineup throughout his career. He drank too much, ate junk, and was not an example of what a top performing athlete should be. No matter what anyone in Yankee management tried, there was no reigning in Ruth.

17. Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson New York Yankees

17. Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson New York Yankees — While Reggie Jackson did a lot of great things for the New York Yankees and baseball, he was a bad boy in the late '70's. From his clashes with manager Billy Martin, to claiming to the the 'straw that stirred the drink.' Jackson brought a me-first persona to New York, which caused him to be both cheered and jeered at home.

16. Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano Miami Marlins

16. Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano Miami Marlins — Usually pitchers are best at keeping their emotions in check, but Carlos Zambrano never did. He was loud and obnoxious, and his body language showed with every pitch. If things went well, he let hitters know. In an age when pitchers were afraid to throw inside, Big Z had no fear. Not only did he attack opponents with his pitches, but twice he was involved with dugout spats with Chicago Cubs teammates.

15. Rogers Hornsby

Rogers Hornsby St. Louis Cardinals

15. Rogers Hornsby

Rogers Hornsby St. Louis Cardinals — Rogers Hornsby was one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game, but off-field issues caused him to be hated by his teammates. He was a racist, gambled too much, and was shuffled from team to team, although he constantly performed.

14. Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield Milwaukee Brewers

14. Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield Milwaukee Brewers — To this day, Gary Sheffield goes down as the most hated player in Milwaukee Brewers history. From the day he was drafted by the team, he wanted out and let everyone know it until he was finally traded. Being the nephew of Doc Gooden, Sheffield played the game like he was entitled to everything.

13. Pete Rose

Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds

13. Pete Rose

Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds — It is not just the gambling that puts Pete Rose on this list, but the way that he played the game sometimes rubbed people the wrong way. In one All-Star game, Rose barreled over catcher Ray Fosse, effectively ending Fosse's career. His off-field issues of gambling have continued to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

12. Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers

12. Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun — Ryan Braun was once viewed as the greatest Milwaukee Brewer since Robin Yount, but his PED scandal has tarnished his legacy. He cheated, lied and then was found guilty of using illegal substances. Many of the players who quickly came to his defense looked like fools when Braun was eventually suspended. His constant denial caused many workers related to the case to lose their jobs.

11. Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants

11. Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants — Barry Bonds may be the greatest player to ever play the game, but like many others, his steroid involvement caused his name to be trashed. Though he often felt targeted, most times he was the player picking fights with teammates, opponents, fans and media.

10. Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs

10. Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs — Though at one point Sammy Sosa was responsible for bringing fans back to the game, his steroid involvement and other issues puts him on the list. Later in his career, after breaking a bat, he was suspended for corking his bat. When confronted in court, Sosa, who was often outspoken, said that he could not speak English well enough to talk in court.

9. Mark McGwire

Mark McGwire Oakland A's

9. Mark McGwire

Mark McGwire Oakland A's — Mark McGwire was baseball's biggest slugger and an example of one of baseball's biggest users from the steroid era. When questioned about his past, he looked towards the future instead of admitting his wrong doing.

8. Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez Boston Red Sox

8. Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez Boston Red Sox — Manny Ramirez was an elite hitter, but an example of how not to play baseball for kids. His loafing on the field eventually came to be known simply as 'Manny being Manny.' He talked his way out of Boston and twice was suspended for using illegal substances. He ended his career just one strike away from a lifetime ban.

7. Jose Canseco

Jose Canseco Oakland A's

7. Jose Canseco

Jose Canseco Oakland A's — Jose Canseco was not only a steroid user, but he was a dealing and a deliverer. In his tell-all book, Canseco threw players under the bus and talked about how he was the steroid ring leader. It is a wonder how far out of control things would have gotten with the steroid issue without Canseco.

6. A.J. Pierzynski

AJ Pierzynski Boston Red Sox

6. A.J. Pierzynski

A. J. Pierzynski Boston Red Sox — A.J. Pierzynski has played for six teams and he has been hated by every one of them. He is known as outspoken, dirty and brash. Recently, a former teammate was quoted as saying that he would "run Pierzynski over if he ever saw him in a parking lot."

5. Milton Bradley

Milton Bradley Seattle Mariners

5. Milton Bradley

Milton Bradley Seattle Mariners — Milton Bradley was a cancer to any team that he played for. Going through seasons it was a miracle when he was not ejected. When he was tossed, most ejections turned to tirades. He attacked water coolers, literally fought fans, and eventually needed to take anger management courses to help with his issues.

4. Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens New York Yankees

4. Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens New York Yankees — Throughout his career, Roger Clemens was one of the most intimidating presences on the mound. With pinpoint control and a blazing fastball, he wasn't shy about being a head hunter. In perhaps his worst act of all, after beaning catcher Mike Piazza earlier in the season, Clemens fired a Piazza broken bat at his feet during a World Series game.

3. John Rocker

John Rocker Atlanta Braves

3. John Rocker

John Rocker Atlanta Braves — After his ridiculously stupid interview with Sports Illustrated, John Rocker quickly became the most hated man in all of baseball. He told the magazine things that should not be said anywhere and quickly saw his career evaporate. Throughout the rest of his career, he often needed escorts to get to the bullpen to avoid being struck with flying objects thrown by fans.

2. Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb Detroit Tigers

2. Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb Detroit Tigers — Ty Cobb may be the greatest and most hated man to ever play baseball. His teammates hated him, opponents hated him, and fans hated him. He was merciless, racist and a dirty player on the field. He has been rumored to have sharpened his spikes so that when he slid spikes up it would hurt more.

1. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees

1. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees — Alex Rodriguez is clearly the most hated man in the game today. After cheating, lying and threatening to sue everyone in baseball, he was finally suspended for the full 2014 season. At one time he looked to be one of the top field players in the history of the game, but his entire legacy is now tarnished. Not only was Rodriguez a user, but his lack of professionalism in the field at times has led to him being hated by almost everyone.

Pete Schwichtenberg is a baseball writer for Rantsports. Follow @schwick26_pete, Like on Facebook, or add him to your Google Network.

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