Baseball is a sport that thrives on confidence, but sometimes that confidence morphs into something a little… extra.
From outrageous quotes to diva behavior, some MLB players have taken their self-belief to Hall of Fame levels of ego. Let’s count down the 15 most egotistical players in MLB history—because humility is overrated.
15. Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens didn’t just think he was the best pitcher—he was convinced he was an indestructible force of nature. From tossing a broken bat at Mike Piazza to denying PED allegations with the confidence of a politician, Clemens never lacked self-assurance.
14. A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez)
A-Rod’s entire career was a masterclass in self-promotion. Whether he was kissing himself in the mirror for a magazine shoot or opting out of his Yankees contract DURING the World Series, his love for the spotlight was unmatched.
13. Reggie Jackson
“I am the straw that stirs the drink.” Need we say more? Reggie’s ego was as big as his home run total, and he wasn’t shy about letting everyone—teammates included—know just how important he was.
12. Manny Ramirez
Manny being Manny meant doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Whether he was high-fiving fans mid-play or demanding a trade from the Red Sox because he felt unappreciated, Manny operated on his own frequency.
11. Bryce Harper
Bryce came into the league as a teenage phenom with a swagger that screamed “future MVP” (which, to be fair, he did become). But his infamous “That’s a clown question, bro” response to a reporter and general on-field theatrics show he’s never lacked belief in his own greatness.
10. Barry Bonds
Barry was so confident in his abilities that he barely needed a bat—pitchers would just walk him rather than risk getting torched. Add in his icy relationship with the media and his undeniable belief that he was above it all, and you’ve got a world-class ego.
9. Pete Rose
Pete Rose didn’t just believe he was the best—he bet on it. Literally. Between his on-field arrogance and his refusal to admit wrongdoing for years, Charlie Hustle was as self-assured as they come.
8. José Canseco
If you’ve ever read Juiced, you know that José thinks pretty highly of himself. From claiming he introduced steroids to baseball to challenging people to boxing matches on Twitter, Canseco’s ego is as unbreakable as his delusions.
7. Curt Schilling
Schilling’s self-importance extends far beyond baseball. On the field, he was dominant and never hesitated to remind people. Off the field, his opinions, social media antics, and business failures prove he has unshakable confidence in himself—even when he probably shouldn’t.
6. Rickey Henderson
Rickey didn’t just believe he was the greatest—he often referred to himself in the third person to remind people. Stories of his ego are legendary, from allegedly framing a $1 million check without cashing it to calling the Padres GM asking for a job… when he was already on the team.
5. Carlos Zambrano
Zambrano’s on-field tantrums were the stuff of legend. He never thought he was wrong, even when he was destroying Gatorade coolers, punching teammates, or blaming everyone but himself after a bad outing.
4. Trevor Bauer
Trevor Bauer has never met a camera he didn’t like or a controversy he couldn’t escalate. From his Twitter beefs to chucking a baseball over the center field fence after getting pulled from a game, Bauer’s ego might be even stronger than his spin rate.
3. Yasiel Puig
Puig burst onto the scene with a level of swagger that made traditionalists clutch their pearls. From his bat flips to licking his bat mid-game, Puig did everything with the belief that he was baseball’s main character.
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2. John Rocker
Rocker’s mouth was as big as his fastball. His infamous Sports Illustrated interview alone was enough to earn him a top spot on this list, but his general attitude toward, well, everyone made him a true baseball villain with an ego to match.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Best Pitchers in MLB History
1. Lenny Dykstra
If there’s one player who truly believed he was untouchable, it’s Lenny Dykstra. His post-career escapades—fraud, prison time, bizarre interviews—are proof that his confidence in himself never wavered, no matter how often reality disagreed.
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