Gall Of Fame: Baseball’s Most Loathed Players
Which baseball player do you despise above (or perhaps “below”) all others?Which name, upon its mention, sends your heart rate up into a hate gyre?
Do you hate the same players now that you did when you were a kid — or have other players replaced the Rich Gedmans and Von Hayeses in the blackest precincts of your heart?
Who wins a dickfest: Dick Allen, or Barry Bonds?What if it’s a douchefest?Who wins that?
Do you hate any players that you used to love because of comments they’ve made (or assy behavior they’ve engaged in) after their careers ended?
Have any of your hatreds mellowed into grudging respect?
Talk to me.Talk to me about baseball players you hate, baseball players your friends hate, baseball players your grandpa hated.Used to hate?Tell me.Want to hate, but can’t? Let it out.I want to hear about the cherished loathings of baseball fandom, even if it’s just you who hates the guy.
I also want to hear the ways, if any, in which the sharing of these abhorrences contributes to your experience of watching/consuming baseball.When you invite, say, Jonathan Papelbon to eat a handful of bees at the top of your lungs in the bleachers, does it make you feel a part of things?Does the ritual telling of Dave Kingman stories on the porch or at the bar contribute to your sense of being a baseball fan?
Or do you just want Dave Kingman to go very far away and take his iron glove with him?
No player too old or insignificant; no grievance too random or inconsequential.It’s over a month ’til pitchers and catchers report, I’ve got a discussion session to plan, and I HATE KEVIN BROWN.HATE HIM.STILL.PUNCH A BEE WITH YOUR NON-PITCHING HAND, BITCHFACE.Haaaaate!
(I may quote your comments; if I do, I will note your name/nom du TN as it appears here. Please hit the ShareThis button below and get your friends/family/FB circle to contribute too.)
Tags: Barry Bonds bees curmudgeoning Dave Kingman Dick Allen Gregg Jefferies Jonathan Crapelbon Kevin Brown Rich Gedman Von Hayes
Jim “Lassie” Edmonds can fall off the edge of the earth as far as I’m concerned. I got so sick of announcers falling all over themselves marveling at his diving catches, conveniently failing to mention that the reason they were diving catches is because he was deliberately playing out of position. The day he came to my beloved Cubs was a bitter, bitter day, made only worse because he actually played halfway decently. Didn’t matter; still can’t stand him.
He can take his “genius” former manager Tony LaRussa with him, too. They’re both total dillweeds.
I can forgive John Rocker – he’s just an ignorant hillbilly.
I can forgive Darryl Strawberry – he was on drugs.
What I can’t forgive is Milton Bradley throwing the ball to the fans in the bleachers with two outs against the Twins on June 13, 2009, advancing two runners. Milton Bradley is, to the best of my knowledge, neither a dumb hillbilly, nor a drug addict. What he is, and why I choose to hate him, is a talented ball player with no respect for his craft.
Steve Garvey when he was with the Dodgers, a large part of the hate because . . . Dodgers. Ugh. Then he joined my team the Padres. It became a more complex hate. And what’s with the Popeye forearms? Dude, that’s just unnatural.
My hatred is more focused on teams rather than players, and I admit to gritting my teeth every time I see Barry Bonds, but the one who just pisses me off more than anyone is Roger %#@#$%^&@! Clemens.
From the first time I saw him, he’s come across as a real SOB. I cheered when Dave Stewart beat him in ’90 (and I think seeing him ejected from that game is one of my fondest moments). Loathsome man…
Ooh, Lenny Dykstra is at the top of my list, both on and off the field. Plus? Don’t steal from your mother. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaate.
Mike Piazza, whom I originally didn’t mind, but came to hate after I met him and he did the d-bag “I’ll shake your hand and sort of acknowledge you while looking around to see who else my be nearby that’s more famous or important than you” thing.
Steve Trachsel, for making me suffer through hours and hours of shitty pitching and forcing the Mets bullpen to clean up after him every damn time he took the mound.
Turk Wendell and that HEINOUS shark tooth-bear claw-monkey brain-armadillo testicle-whatever the hell else was on it “necklace” he insisted on wearing.
Randy Johnson announced his retirement today. Adios, fuglo.
Joba Chamberlin. HAAAAATE I judt don’t think he is all that he is made out to be and his antics when he makes the tough out are just ridiculously over the top. I know Paplebon and Beckett can also react the same way on some of the big outs, but I feel like with them it is more real, whereas with Joba the Hut it is as much for the theatrics of it as for the emotional release/ psyching up.
And, for old-times sake: Aaron-fucking-Boone
Manny Ramirez.
I hate him like no other player before or since. I still remember his rookie season with the Indians and coming to play at Yankees Stadium for his first game there. Watching my tv set, I kept looking at and thinking is “who is this PUNK ASS BITCH and why is he on my tv.”
Hated hearing his name. Hated seeing his horrific hairstyles over the years. And when he became a Red Sox, my hatred for the team and the player were joined and increased my hatred.
The best thing about him going to the Dodgers was that I would never have to see him play again unless the Yankees had an interleague game or Dodgers would learn how to win in the playoffs. Or I could watch Mets games. But nah.
ROGER CLEMENS!!!!!!!
Roger Clemens, for all the reasons mentioned by others.
Ditto for Curt Schilling.
Chipper Jones – super tool. Just can’t stand him.
Ozzie Guillen, who I used to like as a player, but as a manager needs to STFU already. I thoroughly hate him now.
Pete Rose. Hated his face and Incredible Hulk-style hairdo. Hated the nickname “Charlie Hustle”. Hate the victim attitude he’s had about the whole gambling/banishment thing.
Liked Lenny Dykstra when he played for the Mets, but what a super-douche he turned out to be.
Kevin Millar for his douchy hair-bleaching for the playoffs in ’03 (I think). I hate that kind of bullshit. I also hated Bronson Arroyo’s blond cornrows, but he was less annoying in general so I never totally hated him, just his hair.
I’ll probably think of a dozen more as soon as I send this, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately.
“Jim “Lassie” Edmonds can fall off the edge of the earth as far as I’m concerned. I got so sick of announcers falling all over themselves marveling at his diving catches, conveniently failing to mention that the reason they were diving catches is because he was deliberately playing out of position.”
Hehehehe. I can’t help it; I love Jim Edmonds, mostly because those diving catches are what hooked me on baseball, and made me a Cardinal’s fan. I still remember the first time I was watching a game, only marginally paying attention, when Edmonds made one of his catches, and I literally leaped off the couch and yelled “HOLY SHIT!”. I was riveted from that point on.
I still like and respect LaRussa, for reasons mentioned, but also because he does have the second-most wins as a manager. The only time I really get frustrated is when his stubbornness hurts the team (see, Isringhausen), which unfortunately has become pretty regular.
Eckstein got on my nerves, partly because he was mediocre, but all the announcers loved him because he was “scrappy”.
Manny Ramirez’s antics irritate me. Roger Clemens = Brett Favre (I’m retiring, no I’m not, yes I am, ad infinitum). Bleh. I know there’s more, but I’m drawing blanks.
My husband, a lifetime Oakland fan, would like to comment:
“Jeremy ‘slide, you stupid mothereffer slide’ Giambi.”
We’ve laughed ourselves to tears over these comments. Thanks.
A.J. Pieceofshitzki, not only because he is a massive, MASSIVE tool, but because as a Giants fan he brinigs up painful memories. *SHUDDER* we traded Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano for that piece of crap?
Aside from that, Curt Shilling, Roger Clemens, and Nolan Ryan. Dumbass neocons.
Oh, and Corky Simpson! Fuck you, “not a Ricky guy”.
Also, I feel like I SHOULD hate Eric Karros. He was a star on the team I hate most, and was the one guy that could ALWAYS hit my favorite player, Robb Nen. I just can’t do it, though. Aside from the douchey haircut on tv, he’s just not enough of an asshole.
As a long-time Braves fan:
Andruw Jones, especially in the later years of his career with the Braves. Every time I watched him, I wanted to shake him and say, “Look, guy, Terry Pendleton has his job for a reason, so keep your eye on the ball, work on your timing and stop falling on your ass every time you swing.” Watching him at the plate was *painful*. If only he could have swallowed his pride and admitted that a player with a batting average in the high 100s shouldn’t be batting cleanup. Gah!
Tom Glavine. Both for leaving the team that made him for a little bit more money, and for the way he acted during the strike.
Brian McCann. Overpaid and overfed. His pop-up was non-existant for too long for someone who makes more money than I, my parents, my children, their children and their children’s children will ever see in our lifetimes. Also, 12 errors in 2009? I miss Johnny Estrada.
I will also admit to a strong dislike of Chipper Jones based solely on the way that he chews his gum. Not rational, admittedly.
(I’m waiting for the “players you loooooove” post so that I can talk about Sid Bream, Otis Nixon, Jeff Francoeur and Ryan Langerhans.)
@Kim: Aw, don’t hate on Edgar! 1995 or no, he’s a good guy. (Hating Edgar, of all people. :'( I am saddened.)
On to the hatred, rational and ir-!
There’s a big “anyone who plays for the Yankees/White Sox/Angels/Giants/Mets/Cubs” umbrella, and it’s really just that — the team the player plays for. People I have actual rationales for hating are Johnny Damon (hated him when he was in Boston, for being a douchenozzle) and Jose Reyes (jackass). And then there’s A-Rod, but he has his own special “A-Rod” umbrella. I thought he was a tool when he was a Mariner.
I like Mo, though. I always have. Even if he does look like a fruitbat. And therefore I do not fully share @Anna’s opinion of him.
I love all this Papelbon hatred because I hate the motherfucker myself. I used to just dislike him because he’s an ass, but it’s turned into full-blown hatred because he’s still whining about getting Mariano money when he’s not even worthy of sniffing Mo’s jock, not after that 2009 season. (I swear he was worse than the numbers say. I watched him every goddamn day. He was like Julian Tavarez with heat out there. STRIKES. PLATE. THROW THEM THERE. OH MY GOD A CHANGE-UP!! [dies]) And he’s naming his next kid “Gunner Roberts Papelbon.” WHAT. Shut up, Papelbitch.
At least Schilling generally has something to say (even if he thinks it’s more important than it is), and at least Pedroia and Youkilis can walk the walk and don’t bitch constantly about their payhecks. (I love Pedroia, but my initial liking for Youk when he was with Pawtucket has lapsed into grudging tolerance over time.) Papelbon…just…UGH.
Oh, and I hate Varitek, too, more the way I hate Jeter, because he is shoved in my face all the time and is never as good as the media hype (but at least Jeter is good). I hate him less now the he is riding the pine, bwahahaha.
I don’t really hate anyone currently on the Dodgers. I loved-hated Jeff Kent because he was a dick, but he was also entertaining — this was before the younger players opened up and most of them have proven amusing (particularly Kemp and Kershaw, and unintentionally Loney and Ethier). I hate Guillermo Mota, but that is because he sucks, and I hated Vicente Padilla because he is gross-looking. I did learn to hate Juan Pierre after a couple of years because he whined about playing time and respect so much. Orlando Hudson got benched, he said NOTHING, because he knew it was for the good of the team. Frenchy wishes he had half ODog’s class. Have fun with him and his .330 OBP, South Siders.
I hate Tony La Russa because HE INVENTED BASEBALL and I hate Jim Tracy because he interviews himself and dodges his own questions (“Did I want to take him out of the game? I’m not sure I can answer that”). Oh, and the Rockies made him look competent. I assure you that he is not competent. I hate the Rockies anyway but now I want them to finish tied with the Giants for last place. HATE.
And for ages, the name “Rube Marquard” would inspire urges to kill things. After I read The Glory of Their Times, I hated him less, but hearing the name followed by completely idiotic reasons why he is a genuine Hall of Famer still makes me want to kill things. (I was born a couple of generations too late. Don’t mind me.)
My genuine love for baseball came after Albert Belle, Carl Everett, John Rocker, etc., so I hate them in principle for various reasons, but not to any real extent. Plus Rocker and Everett have been so nicely mocked in The Dugout that they (sort of) amuse me at this point.
That might be it. Maybe. Probably not.
Oh Chone. I know it’s not your fault, but damn.
I used to really hate Pedro–unhittable and the Zim thing. I know Zim was charging, but he’s 2 feet tall and 800 pounds; side-step him. Momentum would have carried him through the crowd and the fight would have been over before he could turn back. ANYway. Pedro has sort of become a lovable clown and my fave Yankee beat him so we could win the Series this year, so…I’m over it.
There were also a lot of players I used to hate b/c of their stupid hair (looking at you, Damon) and currently hate because of their stupid hair (seriously, Utley? How much Murray’s Original you working there?)
But for some reason, the one who comes immediately to mind: Chad Curtis. With your stupid flips, and your proselytizing, and your need to confront Jeter for not acting like it’s the Hatfields and the McCoys every damn day. Gah. Hate.
Ohhh, the hatred that still burns!!! Steve Garvey, 1984 Padres era. Smug look on his mug, hideous uniform (OK, not his fault, but still…), but most of all, he had a big hand in defeating my beloved Cubbies that year in the NLCS. I’m still traumatized.
Nolan Ryan! Yeah yeah, amazing fastball, whatever. I’d have been a lot more impressed if he’d aimed it at the strike zone rather than at the batter.
And Aaron F-ing Boone. And I was rooting for the Yankees that year! Ok, it was a great home run and an amazing win, but did anybody else notice that his piss-poor fielding and hitting otherwise helped to make the series that tight in the first place?
Also, (dis)honorable mention to Michael Kay and all the Yankees broadcasters since Jim Kaat retired. We know the Yankees have a history. Shut up now.
Jonathan Papelbon. IF ADAM LIND WANTS TO HIT A HOME RUN IN EVERY PLATE APPEARANCE, YOU’D GOSH-DARNED WELL BETTER LET HIM. Douche.
I used to hate Ozzie Smith. He was so pesky and such an irritant to my Mets. Everytime he got on the basepath, he seemed to find a way to score. And, to me, his backflip at the start of every game was just taunting me and my Mets. However, my hatred has mellowed as time has gone on and he is no longer a scoring threat.
Roger Clemens, on the other hand, will never regain my respect. He is the one player who sets me on fire with loathing. The reasons are endless but the definitive moment for me was when I was watching the game with my nephew. We were all very excited about the game and it was a big deal for him to stay up late with the adults to watch. When Mike Piazza’s bat scattered and Clemens picked up a big shard and threw it at Piazza, I was momentarily stunned silent. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I then had to spend time explaining to my nephew how some people are good sportman and others act with bad sportsmanship. (Thankfully by not charging Clemens, Piazza provided the counter example for me to use).
Look, Piazza is my all-time favorite player and I was outraged that he was wronged, disrespected and challenged like that on national television. The dark truth is that I wanted him to smack down Clemens with that bat shard. But he didn’t and that makes me admire him all the more. Here’s the real heart of my loathing of Clemens – never did I expect to be having a serious discussion with my nephew about sportsmanship and conduct. Watching the game was supposed to be a special treat. These players are paid enormous sums of money and seek endorements deals and to me, that is a tactic agreement to behave as a role model or at the very least conduct oneself with good sportmanship.
@Chris Conrad,
I tried very hard to share your hatred of Milton Bradley, but, as a life-long Twins fan, all I could do was smile at the remembrance of that moment. Marv Albert showed it on Letterman the other night and made me laugh all over again.
A.J. Pierzynski and Chuck Knoblauch: two guys who were pretty decent (or at least contained their idiocy) while they were here, and went off the deep end once they hit the bigger market teams.
Oh, and how could I have forgotten Roger Clemens? Whiney Herzog? Len Dykstra? Oh, the memories.
Roger Clemens = Brett Favre (I’m retiring, no I’m not, yes I am, ad infinitum).
That sickened me. He takes the longest victory lap in sports, accepts the farewell ovations of fans around the country, makes aging-gunslinger faces, and rides into the sunset…OF HOUSTON, with his butt-boy Andy Pettitte, who I have almost entirely forgiven but not quite.
I do sympathize with these guys — I don’t know what it would be like to have to quit the only thing I know how to do, when I still know HOW to do it, but can’t quite, anymore, and start all over at 35 or 40, and it seems like MLB should have a support system/re-entry into the atmosphere program of some sort. But don’t be toying with us.
@Amanda: I’ll see your Rube Marquard and raise you Kid Gleason.
These players are paid enormous sums of money and seek endorements deals and to me, that is a tactic agreement to behave as a role model or at the very least conduct oneself with good sportmanship.
I disagree, but this is still an interesting point and a perspective many people share.
Keep ’em coming, folks!
I neglected to add that I hate Reggie Jackson. I respect Reggie Jackson; I love watching that World Series footage. But there’s a way to handle your status as a resident of baseball’s Olympus graciously…and then, there’s Reggie. And when he visits the booth, it’s Ignorant Humorlessnessville, and he is the mayor.
I actually heard an interview with Reggie Jackson recently on the Howard Stern show, and he actually came across okay. Not a great sense of humor, but not a total tool either. I went from active dislike to indifference based on that interview alone.
I used to hate Jeff Kent, until I saw him on that horrible Superstars show over the summer, and he was…nice. Super nice and supportive to his less-than-athletic partner (I think it was Ali Landry). I was expecting a full out meltdown when they finally lost, and he was just so complimentary of her effort, that I was like, “Who are you, and what did you do to Jeff Kent?”
But staying on the Hate List for me – it begins with Carl Pavano, and I loathed the fact that I had to root for him when he was on the Yankees, at least when he wasn’t injured. Also on that list? Youklis, the much mentioned Chipper Jones, and Jeff Weaver – the Yankees traded Ted Lilly away for this guy? Yes, he was awesome in Detroit, but he went to New York and promptly fell apart, so much so that someone tried to sell him on Ebay after he gave up a ton of runs. And then of course, he left the Yankees and then became good again. Stupid fragile sports egos who can’t play in New York.
I will loathe Johnny Damon to the end of my days. In my dreams he winds up getting busted so far down in the minors that he has to wear the mascot suit when he’s not actively at bat. Why, you ask? When my daughter was 8, she loved Johnny Damon. He was her first favorite player, and whenever he came up to bat it was hearts, puppies, and sunshine at our house. Christmas 2005 we’re driving across country and learn from SportsCenter that he’s moved to the YANKEES for boatloads of cash. My daughter actually cried. When we got home she took down the Johnny Damon poster on her door….and proceeded to get out her magic markers and give him devil horns, a turn-of-the-century ‘stache, warts on his nose, and a voice balloon saying “I is the stupidest guy evur!” And put it back on her door, where it held a place of honor for the next couple of years until it got lost in a move. She’s obviously moved on, but I haven’t–eat hot death, Damon!
For, me #1 will always be Francisco Cabrera. He’s a nobody, but ended the 1992 NLCS with his stupid single, and I was 13, and a Pirates fan, and my baseball soul pretty much died then and hasn’t quite recovered. Being a Pirates fan is really, really hard, y’all.
Changes of heart? I used to really hate Derek Jeter (pretty boy, preener, Yankee), but as of late, I kind of grudgingly like him. I think it’s because of A-Rod. Hated John Smoltz during his “my psychologist must sit behind home plate and wear a red turtleneck stage” but now that he’s older and mellower I’m ambivalent.
I do think there is great camaraderie in shared sports hate. An ex of mine totally bonded over hating the Yankees and Duke (and Jeter and krzyzewski in particular). It can sometimes feel like a sign from God — “Wait, you hate Matt Clement, too? It’s the soul patch, right? I KNOW!”
Others I hate: Carlos Zambrano (he just makes me furious. I hate his melodrama, hate the Cubs), Roger Clemens (duh), Chipper Jones (recipient of most of my post-92 Braves hate), Johnny Damon (As a Red Sox *and* Yankees hater, he just irks me).
hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hAAAAAAAAAAATE Posada. I’m perfectly ok with it being an irrational hatred, spiked really by nothing other than he looks like a mouse, and I’m a sox fan. heh
Man. Loving this topic.
Whom do I hate? So glad you asked. 1) Pedro – yes, he has been a good pitcher, but he’s not nearly as good as he thinks he is, and his mouth writes checks his ass can’t cash. Go back to your mango grove and take your Jheri curls witcha. 2) Manny. Manny=Villany. That’s all. 3) A-Rod. Even when he’s playing MVP for my team, he’s still a douchebag extraordinaire. STFU and Go Away. 4) LaRussa. A lying, weaselly sack of bee-shit. (I’m liking all the bee-related slurs here. I feel I must contribute.) I believe he juiced or encouraged to juice all his players and now is all “How could I know? Who, me?” Die.
I kan’t say I actually hated him, but boy oh boy did I enjoy booing Krazy Kyle Farnsworth when he was in town and blowing every lead ever handed him. And in the stadium, booing along with 40,000 others? Awe.Some. I still occasionally boo him now, even when there’s no game on, just for the sheer pleasure of it.
In a “blast from the past” way: when I was about six, I hated Steve Carlton of the Phillies. Why? I was a devoted Phillies fan, and my favorite player was Bob Boone, who was the main catcher at the time; but when Carlton pitched, 2/3rds of the time it was McCarver who caught for him. I think it also didn’t help that I became such a fanatic for the Phillies during the year that Carlton had his Worst Season Ever and the relationship between him and the media soured spectacularly. My child’s perception of him was that he was sullen and mean, AND whenever he pitched, My Favorite Player wasn’t playing. (Which is untrue, since Boone did catch for him sometimes as well.) Ah, the tiny, insignificant things of which a baseball hatred is made!
Way more guys in baseball irritate me than fill me with actual hatred. I’m a Red Sox fan now, but, for example, I don’t hate Jeter or anything. Of the current crop, though, the player I probably hate the most is A-Rod. Not because he’s good or solely because he’s a Yankee, since there are Yankees I don’t mind. It’s because A-Rod is A-Rod. There are always guys who you love to hate when they play for a rival team, but secretly or not-so-secretly, you would love them if they were on your team. That is not true of A-Rod. I don’t want him near any team that I’m following. Haaaaaaate.
P.S. About the “such a fanatic for the Phillies” line, I meant to add:
HHHAAAAAAAATTTTTEEEEE the “Philly Phanatic”. UGH. When I was little and got into the team, we didn’t HAVE a mascot, and WE LIKED IT JUST FINE. God, that thing is annoying AND stupid. The only thing stupider might be that other johnny-come-lately of mascots, the Red Sox’s Wally the Green Monster. Having a physical feature of a ballpark given a nickname: fine. Grinding the joke into the ground by creating a mascot that literally embodies the nickname? MORONICALLY STUPID. Aaugh.
Oh, now I remember who I hate…Al Hrabosky. DESPISE. Not so much as a player (never saw him), but as an announcer. He constantly goes on and on about “in MY day”, and puffs himself up so much it makes me nauseous. Even his co-announcers get disgusted with him.
@SDB and DT: Reggie actually is on my good list. Exciting player; always made entertaining copy in his “straw that stirs the drink”/”the magnitude of me”/Martin-feuding zenith (which I only read about after the fact; I was a little young at the time), and I can’t think of a single eminence grise on the players’ side who was more forthright and prescient on the steroids subject when it was fashionable to act like a moron and be all “Boy, these guys playing now sure are bigger and stronger than we were. It’s all that awesome new conditioning and the advances in breakfast cereal.” Plus — bonus points for “I must kill the Queen.” (I concede that SDB, at least, hears more of his broadcast-booth stuff than I do.)
@Stacey: Fantastic post on the Clemens/Piazza incident. It was sickening.
The only person I have been shocked to see named so far: Jacoby Ellsbury. Not that I begrudge anyone his/her choice — the differing reactions are part of the fun — I just didn’t think JE was hateable. He seems so much like the kid who shovels snow off your grandmother’s porch without being asked.
Worthy candidate I wish I had thought to name: Chad Curtis. Cram it with a crucifix, Godboy.
Okay, so I already talked about my hatred of a hundred burning suns of PUNK ASS BITCH Manny Ramirez.
Now I will talk about two other categories of my all-time hatred. The first category were Dominican players my father loved. Here’s the background, as a little kid I discovered my love and passion for baseball and for the Yankees in particular. To my surprise, I learn that my father was also a huge baseball fan. Now you would think would something that we could share and love together. Wrong. Yeah, my dad was a baseball fan but he HATED the Yankees. He only supported players who were from our native country, the Dominican Republic.
And when it was a competition between my dad and my Yankees, Dad was going to lose no matter how I loved him. It’s the Yankees and his hatred of them was stupid. So in petty revenge I hated all the players that he loved which were all Dominican Players. So I hated Fucking Pedro Martinez, Moises Alou and his Dad, Juan Fracking Marichal, Overated Armando Benitez, Tony Fernandez, Weirdo Sammy Sosa, Stupid Ass Vladimir Guererro, and yes I hate him Pujols.
Funny enough, I have always loved Alex Rodriguez even when we lost in 95 to the Mariners and I hated every single player on that team except Tino and Alex. I cannot explain it considering my rule but I didn’t care about his off the field antics, his douchy personality, or his petty jealousies, LOVE him.
Finally my second category are people who played for the Yankees that I NEVER WANTED on my team. I am looking at you Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Johnny Damon. Broken down beat up ex-Mets Strawberry and Gooden. FATMAN Giambi. Sucky for us pitchers Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Kevin Brown. And fucking worthless and fragile little egos Pavano, Kenny Rogers, and fucking Weaver.
Phew that felt good.
Bobby Bonilla, no doubt. He’s the only guy I refused to own on a fantasy team, no matter how good his stats.
I hate Jeter. No reason, really, I just hate his smug little face. HATE. Hate hate hate. To be perfectly fair, his smug little face probably wouldn’t be on my radar if it wasn’t attached to someone in pinstripes (greetings from Boston, everybody!), but SHUT UP Jeter’s smug little face.
Also, Shut up Joe Morgan, whom I never watched play but who is SO ENDLESSLY IRRITATING with the meaningless prattle EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS DAMN MOUTH that I want to light the TV set on fire.
I… also might never forgive Pedro Martinez for not coming out of the game in the 2003 ALCS. I mean, that’s mostly on Grady Little, who’s probably paid his debt to society by now, poor guy, but blind men on Mars could see dude was done, and… it’s water under the bridge now, and whatever, but for the love of little green apples, that dude turned into such a fucking headcase, and so much of the ACLS shitshow that year revolved around him… god. And while we’re on the subject, SHUT UP ROGER CLEMENS, with your fake-retiring and your supposedly having been washed up after 13 seasons with the Sox and your ridiculously-named offspring and playing for the Jays AND the Yankees. My brother and I IDOLIZED that douchebag as kids. God.
Ooh, do I really need to explain why I hate Clemens? I was surrounded by sunshine and rainbows and kittens the day the steroid news came out (and I am pretty sure my father was doing a happy dance up in heaven).
BDanger, after your story Schilling is being downgraded from “tool, but bloody sock” to “tool I hate.”
Gary Sheffield made my list when he said there are more Latinos in baseball because they are easier to control. Yeah, yeah, I’m sure you’ve experienced a lot of racism in your life, but BITE ME. Cabrón.
Manny finally made my list (it’s a long one) in 2008 — you don’t wanna be in Boston anymore? Fine, work with your agent and management to make it happen. But do your damn job, the job you are getting payed millions to do! Ever hear of a work ethic? Gah! Hate!
Jeter I hated for a very long time, but after living in NYC for years I am willing to admit that he may not be as douchey as his smug face indicates.
Despite being a Sox fan, I don’t hate ARod. I alternate between contempt and pity for him.
@Holly, aw, I love the Phanatic. He cracks me up. Admittedly, I only ever saw the dude on TV, but he’s a giant green thing with fringey fur and a gigantic green ass. He’s like the aliens on Sesame Street. What’s not to love? (I mean, I hear you. But he is so over the top.) Wally’s sort of grown on me, though initially I was INCENSED. I think it’s the part where they have a little Wally in an Adirondack chair up in the NESN booth.
More than any player ever, I loathe Bud Selig. I hate him so much I start spitting with anger when I try to articulate why. Starting with his ridiculously stupid hair…I fucking hate looking at him. I want to shave his head. Trying to contract the Twins out of existence. Was that supposed to make us be fans of his Brewers? His evil hypocrisy when it comes to PED’s. I bet he kicks puppies. His idiotic juvenile name. Collusion. I can’t stop. Announcing his retirement and then not doing it.
It’s been years, and he’s virtually disappeared into oblivion, but Garnier. Stupid, evil Garnier with his stupid pseudo jewfro and the glasses. Oh god his stupid ass glasses. When he and the stupid dodgers played my beloved Giants, I saw red. I actually attended a Giants/Dodgers game in which he got booted from the game. It was one of the most glorious moments I’ve ever witnessed.
Also, I’m with the rest of you that deftly bagged A.J. ‘Double Play’ Pierzynski. Could not stand him when he played for the Giants. And do not get me started about Benetez (sp?) It’s been years, and I’m still salty about him bocking a runner home when we had a two run lead that he thoroughly demolished. You’re a closer. Act like it! Grrrrrrr!
A-Rod, yesterday, today and forever. I know it’s almost too easy at this point, but man… Swatting at Arroyo was enough to earn the undying hatred, but then pulling the random yelling during the Blue Jays game in 2007. I’ve seen more professionalism from 9 year olds. While I definitely have some serious distaste for “Manny being Manny” and things of that nature, A-Rod really takes the dick moves to the next level.
Then going to the press to say the hate comes from being bi-racial, good looking and rich? Whatever. Jeter manages to pull it off with aplomb and is still better in a clutch than a-Rod ever has been.
As a White Sox fan, I adore AJ, but I’m not surprised at all the AJ hate. Most people do hate him. I love that he’s a jackass…he just happens to be my jackass.
But my particular hate comes from childhood and growing up as a Reds fan. I hate, hate, HATE Pete Rose. He is an ass, has always been an ass and always will be an ass. I don’t care if he gets in the hall of fame or not. I don’t care that he gambled. He was just an asshole. My grandparents played in several “celebrity” (local Cincinnati) golf outings that he participated in during the 80’s and he was a jackass even then.
I do have a love/hate relationship with Mark Buehrle, mostly because I think he’s been kind of overrated in the last few years. Of course, I had to eat that a little last year with his perfect game, but he quickly became Fucking Mark Buerhle again later in the season…But he was on an episode of Dogs 101 and seemed like a pretty nice guy, so I don’t hate him too much…maybe just his hype.
Oddly, for some reason I don’t find that I hate players in baseball as much as I hated some particular football players when I was a football fan. Off topic, sort of, but this just made me realize that. I wished injury on many a football player, but not so much in baseball.
@Nora–though I am an evil Braves fan, I felt for your Pirates in ’92. The image of Andy Van Slyke sitting in the outfield, hat askew, looking just gobsmacked after Cabrera’s hit and Sid Bream’s gimpy two-busted-knees slide did make me feel sorry for the guy. But then I continued screaming and falling off the couch with joy. But on your general theme, Joe Carter and the entire ’91 Minnesota Twins lineup can suck it.
John Kruk just recently left my despicable list–hated his nasty, greasy, tobacco spitting, dirty self as a Phillie, but he cleaned up well on Baseball Tonight and actually says intelligent things once in a while.
Dennis Eckersley–the original orange lizard man. Before Lindsay Lohan was even born, he was baked until Cheeto-like. And there was some photo shoot of him in a speedo–I still have nightmares.
And Chipper Jones. Despite being the supposed “face” of the Braves, he’s clearly a douchebag. Don’t just cheat on your wife, cheat on her and have a love child. Don’t just give your subsequent kid with wife #2 a stupid name, name him after a rival team’s stadium. Oh, and be sure to grow douchey facial hair every year, and smirk like a MoFo every five minutes. Gah. Grow up, Larry.
Chuck Schilling deserves to be in the Hall of Shameless Self-Promoters, right up there with Alan Dershowitz, Tom Cruise, Reggie Jackson, and Jesse Jackson. Everything he says and does is calculated to burnish his own halo. When and if he becomes the Governor of my state, I’m moving out. His dad, Chuck, on the other hand, was a very useful second baseman for the Red Sox, until his career was derailed by a bad wrist injury.
Clemens, another in bad need of a cranial rectalotomy…
Anlyn’s post reminded me of another player turned announcer whom I hate with a white-hot hate: Tim McCarver. Why is he set free to ruin games, Fox???
Randy Johnson – take a shower and get a hair cut, you gross, disgusting, lanky man… and thank God you took off the GD pinstripes, they make you look worse…
Chipper Jones – nothing else to say there…
Clements – again… it’s been said…
A-Rod – D-bag…
Is it right to hate on Joe Morgan? I mean – he’s an idiot… but can I say I really hate him? I don’t know…
I don’t really like Manny, but the hatred he brings out in Yankee fans makes me laugh so, so hard that it’s totally worth just taunting them…
Umm… I’ll be back…
This one’s for all you Pete Rose haters. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2007/12/david-beckham-h.html
I forgot Canseco! The Simpsons’ commentary on the baseball episode he was in was the best — apparently all the players were easy to work with except one, whom they refused to name, except that it rhymes with “manseco.” He even made them rewrite the storyline they gave him to make him look better!
I have to say I don’t follow baseball much beyond what SportsCenter tells me, but A) I hated Pierzynski solely for that shit with Barret–like a lot, out of nowhere, HATED him–and I’m so glad to hear that I am justified in holding onto that hate. And B) baseball fan or no, loving the discussion. What a great way to spend a Friday afternoon!