40 Most Uncontrollable Figures in Baseball

Something that gives baseball its great mystique is the fact that it's remain unchanged for so many years. While there have been advancements in technology that aid the game, it's still the same.

The same can be said for its players.

There have always been, and will always be, managers that dispute any call that doesn't go their players' way. In much the same way, there have always been, and will always be, players who let the fame and fortune get in the way of their lives off the field—oftentimes affecting their on-field product.

With that, here are some of the most uncontrollable figures in baseball history.

Manny Ramirez

After testing positive for a banned women's fertility drug in 2009, Manny Ramirez was handed a 50-game suspension, but he wasn't done there.

Last year he tested positive once again, this time receiving a 100-game ban, after which he retired. He has since come out of retirement to sign a minor-league deal with the A's.

Just Manny being Manny I guess.

Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder will form their own version of the bash brothers in 2012 as the Detroit Tigers look to get back into the postseason and hopefully the World Series.

He's no doubt one of the game's elite offensive players, but his struggles with alcohol abuse have been hindrances on multiple occasions, once needing to be picked up from the police station by Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski.

A.J. Pierzynski

A.J. Pierzynski has been considered one of the most hated players in the game, and while many in the league were probably happy when he was drilled by Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, his staged altercation in the wrestling ring was one of the more memorable self-serving memories he's provided us over the years.

Jose Canseco

Jose Canseco's massive stature may have in itself tied him to speculation surrounding the usage of steroids during his career, but Canseco also confirmed it in 2005 with the release of his book Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big.

Canseco took his admission even further in his book, stating that around 85 percent of the league was on steroids.

He also used his time in the spotlight to out former teammates Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and others on their usage and hasn't turned down any other opportunity to give himself attention whenever possible.

Dwight Gooden

When Dwight Gooden came into the league he excited Mets fans every time he took the mound and certainly appeared to have the stuff to become one of the game's all-time greats.

Unfortunately for Gooden, fame may have gotten the best of him as he faced charges of cocaine possession and assaulting a police officer.

Izzy Alcantara

I'm not going to say much here. It's just so stupid that a player could actually think anything good could possibly come from doing something like that.

Ugueth Urbina

During his prime, there weren't many players better than Ugueth Urbina, as the reliever posted a career 3.45 ERA and struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings along the way.

Off the field, things took a turn for the worse for Urbina when he was brought into custody for his involvement with an attempted murder after attacking five individuals with a machete.

Marge Schott

As president and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds during most of the '80s and '90s, Marge Schott was certainly no stranger to attention, as her unorthodox behavior put both her and the team in the limelight frequently.

Her slurs towards minorities, Japanese people and homosexuals weren't well received at all, and her support for the Nazis and Adolf Hitler essentially pushed her out of baseball.

Nyjer Morgan

Nyjer Morgan certainly has his moments on the field, but it seems like he's just as well known for the sideshow he brings to any team he's on.

Whether he's Tony Plush, Tony Gumbo or anyone else he conjures up, he could wear out any welcome if he lets it get in the way of his play on the field.

Dave Stewart

Dave Stewart's accomplishments on the mound can't really be denied, as he was a valuable asset for both the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays among other teams.

He struggled to maintain his composure at times, though, as evidenced by an incident when Stewart was arrested for punching a police officer in the face during a bar fight.

Phil Wellman

Phil Wellman's ejection has been played so much since its occurrence that I'd find it hard to believe many of you haven't seen it yet.

No matter how many times I see it, though, I still find it hilarious that he actually got the urge to turn a rosin bag into a grenade.

Ty Cobb

Currently ranked fourth all time in stolen bases, Ty Cobb swiped his fair share of bags in his day thanks in no small part due to the fact that he regularly sharpened his spikes.

Off the field, Cobb was every bit as arrogant as he could've been on the field, all the more magnified by the alcoholism he carried with him throughout most of his career.

Jose Guillen

Jose Guillen's temper may have gotten the best of him in what was a career that probably could've taken him further than it did.

His inability to get along with teammates and coaches certainly didn't help him find a consistent home, as he put in time with more than a third of the league.

Albert Belle

Former teammate Omar Vizquel did note that all of Albert Belle's bats were corked, likely leading to the power he produced while in Cleveland, but it was a particular incident that stuck out among others.

After Belle's bat was confiscated before a game due to suspicion of corking, Indians pitcher Jason Grimsley actually made an attempt during the game to swap the bat. The ploy didn't work, and Belle was suspended for a week.

He never got along with the media and fans throughout his career, either, which certainly doesn't help his standing in baseball history.

Frank Francisco

New York Mets reliever Frank Francisco has been one of the game's better late-inning options as of late, putting in good time with the Blue Jays and Rangers in recent years.

It was with the Rangers in 2004 that he may have made the biggest impact on his namesake after he threw a folding chair into the stands in Oakland, hitting a woman in the face.

He was arrested for his role in the incident and pleaded no contest to assault charges, earning anger management and community service as well as a public apology.

Ron Gardenhire

Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gets ejected just about as often as any manager in the game today.

Being known as a "players' advocate," it shouldn't be surprising that Gardy ends up sticking up for his players and oftentimes gets an early exit as a result.

Mo Vaughn

It's bad enough that Mo Vaughn was tied to the steroid scandal that swept through major league baseball a few years back, but he also had problems off the field and in the media that certainly didn't help his image.

After a departure from the Angels franchise he threw Troy Percival and the team under the bus, burning a bridge along the way.

Milton Bradley

Milton Bradley's time in the league was seemingly always mired in controversy.

In 2007 as a member of the San Diego Padres, he actually managed to tear his ACL while being restrained by manager Bud Black.

With the Chicago Cubs in 2009, Bradley was sent home during a game by then-manager Lou Piniella after throwing a tantrum in the dugout.

Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield's most infamous remarks came in a 2007 issue of GQ when he called out the league as a whole for the treatment of African-American players, by virtue of noting the league's ability to "control" Latino and Hispanic players:

"

What I said is that you’re going to see more black faces, but there ain’t no English going to be coming out. ... (It’s about) being able to tell (Latin players) what to do—being able to control them. Where I’m from, you can’t control us. They have more to lose than we do. You can send them back across the island. You can’t send us back. We’re already here.

"

He also had a stake in the league's widespread PED scandal, as his testimony in front of a grand jury first brought to light his steroid usage. However, he didn't stop with a simple admission, further noting that he received the steroids from none other than baseball's home run champion, Barry Bonds.

Keith Hernandez

Keith Hernandez was a very effective member of the New York Mets during his days in the big apple, though his days in St. Louis certainly were forgettable, especially for Hernandez.

He ran into constant problems in the clubhouse, not limited to his butting heads with manager Whitey Herzog, and battled cocaine addiction as well when with the Cards.

Derek Bell

Spring training provides a great opportunity for players of all calibers to make their way onto the team's roster in the regular season.

Derek Bell apparently didn't get the message in 2002; here was his reaction upon learning he'd actually be playing for his starting role:

"

Nobody told me I was in competition. If there is competition, somebody better let me know. If there is competition, they better eliminate me out of the race and go ahead and do what they're going to do with me. I ain't never hit in spring training and I never will. If it ain't settled with me out there, then they can trade me. I ain't going out there to hurt myself in spring training battling for a job. If it is [a competition], then I'm going into "Operation Shutdown." Tell them exactly what I said. I haven't competed for a job since 1991.

"

Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry was a very talented player that made a number of teams better when he was in the lineup.

Unfortunately for Strawberry, he had a number of personal issues, namely his constant battles with drug addiction, that kept him from displaying the full extent of his abilities. In the end, he hurt both himself and the teams he played for.

Earl Weaver

**WARNING: Explicit Content**

Earl Weaver is one of the all-time greats when it comes to hot-headed managers.

He was ejected from more than 90 games during his career, including twice being ejected before the games even began and once being ejected during both games of a doubleheader.

His dirt-kicking, cap-turning in-your-face ways paved the way for the hot-headed managers of today to go on tirades that end up on SportsCenter every night.

Jeff Kent

Jeff Kent's passion for the game while playing can't be denied.

However, his outspoken nature and sometimes hot-headed temper is something that alienated him from any clubhouse he was in, as his fighting with teammates became a distraction to organizations aiming at winning championships.

Bobby Cox

Former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox is one of the most well-known managers of all time, and though he recently retired, his fiery temper will live on for quite some time.

At 161, Cox is the all-time leader for managerial ejections, surpassing the always hot-headed John McGraw.

Ken Caminiti

As it would later turn out, Ken Caminiti's prime in the league was partially brought on by use of steroids, which no doubt puts a damper on his legacy.

He was also known to struggle with controlling alcohol and drug use, something that probably played a role in his death at the young age of 41.

Elijah Dukes

Elijah Dukes was one of those players that clearly wasn't in the game for the right reasons and only had his best interests in mind.

His temper was so bad that the Washington Nationals actually had to hire a special assistant to follow him around to make sure he didn't get into trouble. Apparently the assistant wasn't around when he was arrested for possession of narcotics and destroying evidence after he tried to eat a bag of marijuana.

Hanley Ramirez

It seems like all of South Florida jumped for joy when Jose Reyes signed a multi-year contract to play shortstop for the resurgent Miami Marlins.

One person who wasn't jumping, however, was Hanley Ramirez. It's no secret he wasn't happy about being forced to move to third base, no matter how much the move could help the team.

He seems to be working his way into it, but I don't think anyone would be surprised if he grew tired of it during the season and demanded a trade.

Billy Martin

Along with Earl Weaver and Bobby Cox, Billy Martin was one of the most fiery managers of his time.

His public disdain for umpires certainly didn't help his cause, as he frequently found himself in the face of the crew chief, kicking dirt in his direction as he screamed profanities.

Jose Offerman

Former major leaguer Jose Offerman received a lifetime ban from the Dominican Winter League for throwing a punch at umpire Daniel Rayburn.

It's not really clear whether or not he actually connects with his punch, but either way, it's behavior that no league should (or will) tolerate.

Kenny Rogers

Though he was never actually caught/suspended for such an action, Kenny Rogers was widely accused by members of the St. Louis Cardinals, including hitting coach Hal McRae, of using pine tar to doctor the ball during Game 2 of the 2006 World Series.

When asked, McRae wasn't shy about calling Rogers to task on his actions. "He wasn't just cheating by using pine tar; he was scuffing balls, too. We collected about five or six balls that are scuffed. He had to be using his fingernails or something," he said.

His run-in with a camerman during pregame warmups probably didn't help his image any either.

Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano has surfaced in South Florida with the Miami Marlins, where he'll be working alongside the also fiery Ozzie Guillen.

His explosive personality has been a detriment to clubhouses, and while it's no doubt a distraction, walking away from his team may have been the best thing for them.

Rob Dibble

Rob Dibble is certainly one of the most dominating pitchers of the 1990s, but despite how good he may have been on the mound, he wasn't immune to his share of struggles off the field.

Whether it was getting into scuffles in the dugout with his own manager, opposing players, or even fans, antics like that definitely weren't well received around the baseball community.

Lou Piniella

Known for his short fuse, Lou Piniella provided entertainment for fans in New York, Cincinnati, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Chicago as he voiced his displeasure for umpires frequently.

John McGraw

Led by John McGraw, known as one of the biggest cheaters in baseball's early history, the Orioles won their way to three straight pennants thanks in no small part to grabbing opposing baserunners when in the field and skipping over bases themselves when up at bat.

These sort of things would be difficult to accomplish today, but with a single umpire calling games at the time, I wouldn't doubt that a number of teams regularly used such tactics to gain an advantage.

Roberto Alomar

Roberto Alomar's place in Cooperstown will forever etch his spot in baseball history, but if it weren't for some less-than-ideal moments during his career, you'd have to wonder if he would've been inducted sooner.

The low point for Alomar definitely came when he argued a call with umpire John Hirschbeck, and got heated enough to the point where he actually spat in his face.

To make matters worse, he defended his actions and stated that it was provoked.

Ozzie Guillen

Fans in South Florida will be in for a treat this season as they welcome the always eccentric Ozzie Guillen as the new manager of the Florida Marlins.

He certainly won't be changing his attitude in his new role, but I'm not so sure he'll be punting any more catchers' masks going forward.

Lloyd McClendon

During a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in June 2001, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon flew off the handle after he thought some unfair calls were handed down on his players.

He got so infuriated at his ejection that he actually lifted home plate and took it with him into the clubhouse.

The Pirates would end up overcoming their deficit to win in extra innings, prompting the team to mount the base in the clubhouse.

Wally Backman

**WARNING: Explicit Content**

Former major leaguer Wally Backman really lost his cool here as manager of the South Georgia Peanuts.

Luckily enough, he just happened to be miked up to catch all the glory of this hilariously inappropriate moment.

Vince Coleman

There's no doubt that Vince Coleman had a great deal of talent, but unfortunately it wasn't in any way enough to outweigh all the distractions that he brought to a clubhouse.

Whether it was the numerous arguments he got into with managers and teammates, his ignoring of base coaches' signs on the basepaths, or the incident in which he actually threw a lit firecracker into a group of fans, Coleman was a mess much of the time.