The Meanest MLB Players Ever
There are some MLB players who were pure mean. Some on the field, some off the field and some just dirty behavior everywhere. These are the meanest MLB players of all time.
25. Gary Sheffield
He was a fearsome hitter with a fearsome attitude. He was outspoken, combative in nature. And according to reports he had an excuse for everything.
24. Reggie Jackson
"Mr. October" was a clutch hitter and Hall of Famer. But he rubbed people the wrong way. He even declared himself "the straw that stirs the drink".
23. Carlos Gomez
He was flamboyant in style and sometimes that disrespect caused conflict. He was known for his excessive batflips.
22. Carlos Zambrano
"Big Z" was known for his explosive temper. That could go off without warning. He once punched his catcher Michael Barrett in the dugout.
21. Chase Utley
He was a respected player. But one notorious dirty play late in his career fractured Ruben Tejada's leg with a late slide which earned him this reputation.
20. Ben Chapman
He was accomplished in the 30s. But he had ugly behavior with Jackie Robinson when Robinson broke the color barrier.
19. Bob Gibson
He was known as downright surly. Famously Hank Aaron once said about Gibson, " You don't dig in against Bob Gibson, he'll knock you down. He'd knock down his own grandmother if she dared to challenge him."
18. Don Drysdale
He was a towering Hall of Fame pitcher. But he was a master intimidator. He led the NL in hit batters 5 times in 8 years.
17. Milton Bradley
He earned his reputation as one of baseball's most big hotheads. He was filled with angry outbursts and fights. He once walked off in a calm matter after an ejection just to return by throwing a bag of baseballs on the field.
16. Manny Machado
He seems happy go lucky, until things don't go his way. He developed a "dirty player" reputation for a string of on-field incidents including kicking Brewers 1b Jesus Aguilar during a playoff game.
15. A.J. Pierzynski
He had a long career but had a universal reputation as a pest and provocateur. Someone once called him "Dennis the Menace in spikes."
14. Juan Marichal
He was a great pitcher with a fire that boiled. He once hit Dodgers catcher John Roseboro in the head with a bat, which obviously triggered a brawl.
13. Roger Hornsby
He was hated by his rivals. his own team revolted against him as a manager and got him fired. It was once said he had "seven more batting titles than friends."
12. Dick Allen
He fought with teammates and even his home fans booed him. He wore out his welcome in multiple cities.
11. Alex Rodriguez
He was one of the most talented and best players of all time. But he earned reputation for sneaky dirty moves. Like slapping a ball out of a fielders glove, and yelling "mine" to distract fielders.
10. Roberto Alomar
He tarnished his own legacy by committing one of the ugliest acts on field history. He spat in a umpires face after disagreeing with a strike call.
9. Carl Mays
He is infamous for being the only player to kill a pitcher with a pitch. Before the incident he had the reputation as a headhunter.
8. Hal Chase
He was accused of throwing games for gamblers. He was eventually banned from baseball.
7. Pete Rose
His nickname was "Charlie Hustle". But sometimes his hustle turned into fights. He hurt a catcher in a ASG. And he slugged a Met during the NLCS.
6. Roger Clemens
He was competitive and terrified hitters. He was the ultimate headhunter. And many remember him hurling a broken bat back at Mike Piazza.
5. Albert Belle
He was feared for his bat and bad behavior. He cursed at fans, reporters and even attacked fans.
4. John Rocker
He was hated not for his beanballs but his tirades. He was known as a pariah for his comments about a variety of groups in New York.
3. Barry Bonds
He was one of the greatest players ever but had a surly attitude. He was hated by fans for cheating and arrogance.
2. Cap Anson
He had a notorious mean streak. He refused to take the field against teams with Black Players.
1. Ty Cobb
He is known as the meanest man to ever play baseball. He was a violent competitor and was known to even sharpen his spikes and slide hard into opponents. He was known as a "violent psychopath".