Every baseball fan has that one team they just can’t stand—and chances are, it’s not because they’re bad. It’s because they’re good, cocky, scandal-ridden, or just plain annoying in a way that gets under your skin.
From dynasties with sky-high payrolls to squads caught up in controversy, these are the 15 most detested MLB teams of the last 25 years. Love them or loathe them, these clubs knew how to make headlines—and enemies.
15. 2012 Miami Marlins
This team promised the world with a shiny new stadium, flashy signings, and Ozzie Guillen at the helm—and then absolutely fell apart. Fans and rivals alike were left rolling their eyes at how quickly the experiment blew up.
14. 2007 Colorado Rockies
They won 21 of 22 to make the World Series and still somehow annoyed everyone with their “team of destiny” vibes. Add in the humidor discourse and some smugness from the front office, and people were over it fast.
13. 2013 St. Louis Cardinals
The “Cardinal Way” has always rubbed people the wrong way, but this group took the self-righteousness to a new level. Even their success came off as sanctimonious, and baseball Twitter had a field day.
12. 2008 Tampa Bay Rays
This team came out of nowhere and instantly developed a superiority complex, acting like they’d been dominating for decades. Their no-name roster and quirky tactics made them easy to root against, especially for AL East traditionalists.
11. 2019 Washington Nationals
Sure, they were a great story—but the “us against the world” narrative got tired real quick. Their constant celebrations and dugout antics weren’t everyone’s cup of tea either.
10. 2021 Chicago White Sox
Between Tony La Russa’s return, clubhouse weirdness, and some old-school-meets-new-school tension, this team was a walking drama series. They were talented, but hard to actually enjoy watching.
9. 2004 Boston Red Sox
They broke the curse, but not before becoming the loudest, most obnoxious underdogs in sports history. From the bloody sock to the endless hype, fans outside New England had had enough.
8. 2023 San Diego Padres
Despite all their talent and spending, they couldn’t back up the swagger—and boy, did they have a lot of swagger. The underachieving just made the cockiness even more unbearable.
7. 2001 Seattle Mariners
They won 116 games and still couldn’t make the World Series, which somehow made people more annoyed than impressed. The smugness around that roster’s “clean” image didn’t help their likability either.
6. 2017 Cleveland Guardians (then Indians)
This team ruffled feathers with their long winning streak and ultra-confident vibes. Plus, lingering controversy over their name and mascot made it hard to root for them with a clear conscience.
5. 2009 Philadelphia Phillies
Coming off a World Series win, this team leaned hard into the villain role with big bats and bigger egos. Chase Utley’s “world champions” speech still lives rent-free in rival fans’ heads.
4. 2000 New York Mets
Known more for drama than dominance, this squad was chaotic in the most exhausting way possible. Between Piazza, Clemens, and constant tabloid fodder, it was hard not to root against them.
3. 2018 New York Yankees
The “Baby Bombers” branding turned into full-blown arrogance, and the team’s entitled energy rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Toss in Aaron Boone’s postgame meltdowns, and fans were done.
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2. 2020 Houston Astros
Coming off the cheating scandal, this team played the villain role to perfection in the COVID-shortened season. They embraced the hate, and the rest of the league gave it to them in full force.
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1. 2017 Houston Astros
The team that turned baseball upside down, the 2017 Astros became public enemy number one once their sign-stealing scheme came to light. Their smugness, lack of remorse, and continued success only fueled the fire.
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