Baseball fans love a good hero, especially the ones who hustle, smile, and hit bombs. But sometimes those same stars go from fan favorites to public punching bags faster than you can say “clubhouse cancer.”
Whether it was a messy exit, off-field drama, or just sticking around too long, these guys learned the hard way that fan love is conditional. Let’s take a look at 17 baseball players who went from beloved to blasted.
17. Josh Donaldson
Once an MVP and the bringer of rain, Donaldson had a swagger that fans adored. But between injuries, sharp-tongued comments, and some not-so-great clubhouse vibes, his popularity took a nosedive.
16. Yasiel Puig
When Puig burst onto the scene, he was electric and impossible to ignore. Over time, though, the wild baserunning and attitude rubbed fans and teams the wrong way.
15. Carlos Zambrano
Zambrano had ace stuff and was loved for his fiery passion, at first. But too many meltdowns and dugout tirades turned that fire into a full-on burnout.
14. Robinson Canó
He was once the smoothest second baseman in the game, gliding through plays and blasting homers. But a pair of PED suspensions did serious damage to his image and legacy.
13. Jonathan Papelbon
He was dominant on the mound and a quirky clubhouse character in Boston. Then came the choking incident in D.C., and fans suddenly didn’t find him so amusing.
12. Aroldis Chapman
With a fastball that defied logic, Chapman was once a fan magnet. Off-field issues and shaky postseason performances made that admiration much more complicated.
11. Manny Ramirez
Manny being Manny was a lovable tagline… until it wasn’t. Between bizarre behavior and multiple PED suspensions, the goodwill ran out fast.
10. Trevor Bauer
Bauer’s mix of analytics and attitude made him a modern baseball rebel—and briefly a fan favorite. But serious allegations and a very public fall from grace flipped the narrative entirely.
9. Bryce Harper (in Washington)
Harper was once the face of the Nationals, beloved for his fire and flash. Then he left for a rival and became the guy D.C. fans loved to boo.
8. Sammy Sosa
He helped save baseball with his epic home run battles, and fans couldn’t get enough. But the PED cloud and his messy split from the Cubs soured the story.
7. Curt Schilling
Fans once revered Schilling for his clutch postseason heroics and bloody sock legend. These days, it’s his controversial social media presence that dominates headlines.
6. Ryan Braun
Braun was the golden boy in Milwaukee—until his PED scandal and denial turned fans against him. He eventually admitted it, but the damage was already done.
5. Jose Reyes
An electric leadoff hitter and fan favorite early in his career, Reyes brought serious excitement. But off-field legal issues erased a lot of that goodwill.
4. Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod was a generational talent who couldn’t seem to get out of his own way. From steroids to scandals to constant headlines, fans went from cheering him to booing him.
3. Barry Bonds
He was once the beloved heir to a baseball dynasty and a five-tool superstar. Then came the late-career bulk-up and steroid accusations that changed everything.
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2. Pete Rose
Rose played with unmatched hustle and heart, and fans adored him for it. But his lifetime ban for gambling still hangs over his legacy like a dark cloud.
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1. Roger Clemens
Clemens was a pitching god and a fan favorite in multiple cities. But his alleged PED use and courtroom drama made many turn on the Rocket in the end.
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