Some players try to avoid the boos and criticism. Others lean into it like it’s fuel for their next home run.
Baseball has never had a shortage of villains—those guys who seemed to enjoy the role of the bad guy. Whether it was their cocky attitude, controversial behavior, or their vibe, these stars weren’t just unfazed by the hate—they thrived on it.
20. Bryce Harper
From the moment he hit the big leagues, Harper embraced the spotlight—and the backlash. He didn’t mind being the villain as long as he got the last word at the plate.
19. Roger Clemens
Clemens pitched with intensity and didn’t care if you liked him. The more people booed, the harder he threw.
18. A.J. Pierzynski
If there was a bench-clearing incident, odds were Pierzynski was in the middle of it. He never seemed bothered by being disliked—he practically invited it.
17. Carlos Gomez
Gomez loved a good bat flip and didn’t hide his emotions on the field. He made it clear he was there to have fun, and if you had a problem with that, too bad.
16. Manny Machado
Machado’s confident swagger rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. But he never seemed interested in softening his edges for anyone.
15. John Rocker
Rocker was one of the most outspoken and controversial pitchers of his era. He welcomed the heat and seemed to thrive on the negative energy.
14. Rickey Henderson
Rickey wasn’t just fast—he was flashy and fearless. He loved to showboat, talk smack, and remind everyone he was the greatest, and he never cared if that rubbed people the wrong way.
13. Yasiel Puig
Puig brought flair, emotion, and chaos to every game. Fans either loved him or hated him, and Puig didn’t seem to mind which it was.
12. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson carried himself with a confident edge and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. He didn’t need approval—he required competition.
11. Jose Bautista
That infamous bat flip made him an instant villain in some circles. Bautista embraced the theatrics and didn’t lose sleep over the criticism.
10. Milton Bradley
Bradley’s on-field fire often turned into controversy. But he never tried to be the nice guy, and that suited him just fine.
9. Nyjer Morgan
Morgan’s alter ego, “Tony Plush,” was all about flair and flash. He fed off the boos like they were part of his pregame ritual.
8. Pedro Martinez
Pedro loved the pressure and wasn’t afraid of confrontation. He played with a chip on his shoulder and seemed to enjoy every second of the drama.
7. Joey Votto
Votto could be sarcastic and dismissive toward hecklers, which made him a fan-favorite villain. He enjoyed the mental chess just as much as the physical game.
6. Reggie Jackson
Mr. October had a big bat and an even bigger personality. He didn’t care if you hated him, as long as you respected his game.
5. Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod’s career was packed with headlines, drama, and polarizing moments. But through it all, he kept smiling and swinging.
4. Trevor Bauer
Bauer was never one to keep things low-key, on or off the field. He fed off controversy and turned the hate into motivation.
3. Manny Ramirez
Ramirez played with a carefree attitude that rubbed some folks the wrong way. But Manny being Manny meant playing on his terms—haters included.
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2. Curt Schilling
Schilling was as outspoken off the field as he was dominant on it. He didn’t just accept being hated—he often doubled down on it.
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1. Barry Bonds
Bonds was never worried about winning a popularity contest. He focused on smashing home runs and didn’t care what anyone thought while he did it.
