Baseball has given us epic home runs, jaw-dropping plays, and some of the pettiest beefs known to man. From grudge-holding pitchers to players who just couldn’t let things go, MLB rivalries can be as dramatic as a soap opera, minus the background music.
A bat flip sparked some feuds. Others? A perceived slight from a decade ago that someone couldn’t move on from. Whatever the origin, these player rivalries brought plenty of spice to America’s pastime.
15. Brian McCann vs. Everyone Who Celebrated
Brian McCann acted like the self-appointed sheriff of baseball etiquette. If you admired your home run for over a second, expect him to wait for you at home plate with a lecture.
14. Jonathan Papelbon vs. Bryce Harper
Papelbon didn’t just argue with Bryce Harper—he choked him in the dugout. That moment became the peak of petty clubhouse dysfunction.
13. Carlos Zambrano vs. Michael Barrett
After a rough inning, these two teammates got into a fistfight in the dugout. It wasn’t just about runs—it was about pride and boiling tempers.
12. A.J. Pierzynski vs. Michael Barrett
Pierzynski got under everyone’s skin, but this time it ended with Barrett punching him in the face. The punch sparked a full-on brawl, which was somehow less petty than the buildup.
11. Yasiel Puig vs. Madison Bumgarner
Puig flipped bats. Bumgarner hated fun. So naturally, they chirped at each other like it was their full-time job.
10. Manny Machado vs. Josh Donaldson
Two fiery third basemen with prominent personalities and short fuses. They never missed a chance to glare, bark, or make things personal.
9. Chris Sale vs. Manny Machado
Sale didn’t like how Machado slid into one of his teammates. So he responded by throwing behind him in a later game, because apparently, grudges > forgiveness.
8. Nyjer Morgan vs. Chris Volstad
Morgan charged the mound after a pitch, but Volstad stood there. The fight that followed was peak petty energy with zero actual punches landed.
7. Cole Hamels vs. Bryce Harper
Hamels admitted to intentionally plunking a 19-year-old Harper “to welcome him to the big leagues.” That welcome message aged like spoiled milk.
6. Alex Rodriguez vs. Jason Varitek
After A-Rod got hit by a pitch and started yapping, Varitek punched him with his glove still on. It was less about the pitch and more about two alpha egos colliding.
5. Zack Greinke vs. Carlos Quentin
Quentin charged Greinke after being hit, and Greinke broke his collarbone in the scuffle. This was less “clear-the-benches” and more “how did we even get here?”
4. Roger Clemens vs. Mike Piazza
Clemens once threw a broken bat shard at Piazza during the World Series. And no, that’s not a metaphor—he did that.
3. Reggie Jackson vs. Billy Martin
Not precisely a player-on-player beef, but this one gets in on sheer drama. Jackson and manager Martin nearly fought in the dugout on national television, which is about as petty as baseball gets.
Read More: 20 Pettiest Feuds in Sports History
2. Pedro Martinez vs. Karim Garcia
Pedro beaned Garcia, then later called him “a zero” when asked about it. It’s one thing to hit someone—it’s another to insult their entire existence afterward.
Read More: 10 Sports Rivalries That Are All Hype, No Heat
1. Jose Bautista vs. Rougned Odor
Odor landed the punch heard ‘round the baseball world after Bautista’s hard slide. This wasn’t just petty—it was personal, explosive, and forever iconic.
Read More: Epic Showdowns: 20 Intense Rivalries in Pro Sports History
