Baseball has always been a sport of heroes and legends. Fans remember the home runs, the strikeouts, and the championships that defined eras. But just as often, the headlines have been shaped by stories that had little to do with what happened between the lines. A recent thread on r/mlb pulled together some of the most infamous moments. The stories range from substance scandals and gambling to bizarre accidents that derailed careers.
From Hall of Famers making poor choices to modern players caught in controversy, the history of Major League Baseball is filled with off-the-field scandals that shocked fans and sometimes changed the game itself.
When Scandals Turn Tragic
Some of the most disturbing and embarrassing incidents pointed out by reddit users include Ben Zobrist, who missed much of a season when his wife had an affair with their pastor, who was also their marriage counselor. What followed was a public and painful divorce that pushed him toward retirement.
Wander Franco’s recent case involving a minor was mentioned as one of the most disturbing ongoing stories in the sport. Pete Rose, perhaps the most famous name tied to gambling, still casts a shadow over baseball decades after being banned.
Others pointed to the heartbreaking story of Ed Delahanty, a Hall of Famer from the early 1900s. He was thrown off a train in Buffalo after a drunken outburst, tried to walk across a bridge over the Niagara River, and died going over the falls. These scandals were not only shocking in the moment but remain part of baseball history.
Lies, Cover Ups, and the Price of Deception
At times, trust has not always been a strong part of baseball’s story. Few stories capture that better than Rafael Palmeiro’s infamous appearance before Congress, where he wagged his finger and swore he had never used steroids, only for evidence later to prove otherwise.
The collusion scandals of the mid 1980s also appeared in the discussion. Owners and league officials worked together to suppress player salaries, costing them hundreds of millions of dollars in legal penalties. Fans called it one of the ugliest examples of greed shaping the sport.
Then there were strange personal scandals too, like the family swap between Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich in 1973. The two literally traded wives and families, an off-field twist that remains one of the strangest tales in sports.
Mishaps That Became Legends
Some incidents even became legends because of their dire nature. For example, Jeff Kent, once broke his hand in a motorcycle accident, an activity banned in his contract. He claimed he fell while washing his truck, but eyewitnesses exposed the lie.
Other mishaps included Ron Gant’s motorcycle crash, Raul Mondesi’s political career ending in jail, and Bobby Abreu’s fiancée cheating on him on a reality show. Other than that, David Ortiz, known as Big Papi, was shot in the backside while in the Dominican Republic, which some still remember because of how unreal it sounded back then.
Even legends like Babe Ruth found themselves in scandals. One story claims he was shot in the leg by a jealous ex. Another fan reminded the thread of George Brett’s very public hemorrhoid issue. These oddities show another side of baseball. Some players live unpredictable lives that sometimes turn ridiculous.
