There are teams you root for, and there are teams you love to root against. Whether it’s because of a massive payroll, an obnoxious fan base, or just a little too much success for your liking, every MLB squad has racked up a few enemies, but some are just better at being the villain.
This ranking dives into the most love-to-hate ‘em teams across Major League Baseball. From harmless underdogs to full-blown public enemies, here’s where every franchise lands regarding how many people seem to enjoy booing them.
30. Milwaukee Brewers
Most people forget they exist until it’s time for a bratwurst or a Bernie Brewer sighting. No one hates the Brewers—they’re just kind of there.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
They have moments, but this franchise flies under the radar even when they’re good. It’s hard to be hated when people don’t remember you’re in the league.
28. Colorado Rockies
People are too busy enjoying the view at Coors Field to develop much animosity. At this point, the Rockies are more pitied than hated.
27. Tampa Bay Rays
Even with all their sneaky playoff appearances, they don’t inspire much hate—just confusion over who’s on the roster this week. Most folks just resent the stadium more than the team.
26. Miami Marlins
They tear it down every time they get interesting, making them hate-proof. There’s no time to build a rivalry when your best player is traded by June.
25. Kansas City Royals
They had their moment in the mid-2010s, but they’re just hanging out in the AL Central the rest of the time. Most baseball fans barely register them unless they’re playing their team.
24. Cincinnati Reds
There’s a lot of history here, but not a ton of recent villain energy. People want them to be good again more than they want to hate them.
23. Detroit Tigers
They’ve flirted with being unlikeable in the past, but right now, they’re too deep in trying to make a good baseball team to make anyone mad. If anything, their fans are more frustrated than their rivals.
22. Oakland Athletics
People are mad at ownership, not the team. The players themselves are underdog folk heroes trapped in a bad situation.
21. Seattle Mariners
There’s been a little more heat lately thanks to playoff aspirations, but for the most part, the Mariners still carry underdog energy. Hard to hate a team that waited 21 years to make the postseason.
20. Minnesota Twins
Solid team, loyal fans, but not a lot of national enemies. Most of the hate they generate is regional and rivalry-based.
19. San Diego Padres
They tried the whole “supervillain payroll” thing for a while, but it didn’t stick. Outside of NL West beef, they’re more lovable than loathsome.
18. Washington Nationals
Winning it all in 2019 gave them a quick spike in irritation for some folks, but it faded fast. Now they’re in “bless their hearts” territory.
17. Pittsburgh Pirates
They’re more of a cautionary tale than a hated squad. People want them to spend money and be decent for once.
16. Toronto Blue Jays
They can rub people the wrong way when they’re loud and relevant. But it’s hard to stay mad at a team that’s the only Canadian option in the league.
15. Los Angeles Angels
Having superstars and still finding new ways to lose is oddly endearing. Some light trolling, sure—but not full-blown hatred.
14. Cleveland Guardians
The rebrand gave some fans a fresh start, but there’s still a lingering grudge from the old days. They’re a middle-of-the-road team in terms of being despised.
13. Chicago White Sox
When things go south, the White Sox fanbase doesn’t hold back—and neither do their haters. They’re not public enemy number one, but on the radar.
12. St. Louis Cardinals
The whole “Best Fans in Baseball” thing rubbed people the wrong way long ago. They don’t shout it as loudly anymore, but the smug reputation lingers.
11. Texas Rangers
That recent World Series win earned them a fair share of haters overnight. Success breeds contempt, especially when you spend a lot to get there.
10. San Francisco Giants
They were lovable underdogs in the early 2010s, but three titles in five years changed the vibe. Now they get plenty of side-eye, especially from Dodgers fans.
9. Atlanta Braves
They’ve got swagger, success, and a lot of confidence, which means they’ve got haters, too. Plus, chopping your way through October doesn’t sit well with everyone.
8. New York Mets
The Mets don’t need to be good to be hated—they need to exist. Their chaos is magnetic, and people love dunking on them no matter the year.
7. Boston Red Sox
Once the lovable losers, they are now full-fledged villains, depending on the decade. Their fans are passionate, their payroll is high, and their smugness fluctuates every season.
6. Philadelphia Phillies
Rowdy fans, brash energy, and a roster full of guys who lean into the drama. The Phillies are built to be hated—and they love every second of it.
5. Houston Astros
You already know why. One sign-stealing scandal later, and they’ve earned lifetime membership in the baseball villain club.
4. Chicago Cubs
Their curse-breaking run turned them into a national darling—briefly. Now? They’re back to being smug, loud, and very hateable for anyone outside Wrigleyville.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Massive payroll, constant contention, and a never-ending stream of hype. If you’re not a Dodgers fan, you’ve probably gotten sick of hearing about them.
Read More: 15 MLB Teams That Had It All—Then Blew It
2. New York Yankees
The original baseball villain. The pinstripes, the rings, the dynasty mentality scream, “please hate us, we thrive on it.”
Read More: 10 MLB Fanbases with Major League Victim Complexes
1. New York Yankees
Yes, they’re getting mentioned twice, because that’s how much people hate them. Just kidding—but it’s always the Yankees at the top of the “most hated” list, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Read More: The 15 Most Hated Teams in Sports History
