MLB: 10 Biggest Egos in Baseball History
Professional sports and narcissism have always gone hand-in-hand, and baseball is no exception. Whether it's the multi-million dollar contracts, the hundreds of naked women at their feet or their fit-for-a-king sized houses, the heads of successful athletes are destined to swell at some point in their careers.
These select players are but a few among the many to have called themselves "the greatest of all-time," spoken of themselves in the third person, or lied to a grand jury to ensure their entrance to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In fact, after reaching the conclusion of this slide show, you'll see that most of MLB's cockiest players all, at some point during their careers, took steroids, likely to boost their own egos.
Rickey Henderson
1 of 10
Although this list is in no particular order, Henderson would be No. 1.
So, instead of writing a paragraph explaining why Henderson is an ego-maniac, it's best to show his love for himself by pulling some of his all-time best quotations.
After breaking Lou Brock's all-time base stealing record, "Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest of all-time."
In asking then-Padres GM Kevin Towers for a job, "Kevin, this is Rickey, calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball."
When negotiating a contract with Oakland, "If they're going to pay me like [Mike] Gallego, I'm going to play like Gallego."
Gary Sheffield
2 of 10
Sheffield was drafted by the then-struggling Brewers in 1986 and was nothing but a problem to them.
After he was moved from shortstop to third base to accommodate an up-and-coming white prospect, Sheffield made headlines by saying the move was a black-white issue and that the team was acting in the best interests of white people.
Not long after, Sheffield was accused of committing errors on purpose to help speed up his departure from Milwaukee.
A few years and about three teams later, Sheffield found himself playing for the Mets. After struggling for the team, Sheffield asked for a contract extension and was denied. Rumors began swirling about where Sheffield would end up, but he made it very clear he would only play where he wanted to. "If I am sent to a team that I don't want to play for, I would go home," he said.
Barry Bonds
3 of 10
Baseball's all-time steroid-using home run king is known for his big ego as well.
Bonds' trial for lying to a federal grand jury has gone on for years now, providing us with quite a few egotistical quotes about his innocence.
Barry, on his ability to perform so well late his career, "It's called talent. I just have it..."
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Sammy Sosa
4 of 10
Slammin' Sammy's ego first came into view in 2004 after his off-season training preparation came under fire from manager Dusty Baker.
When Baker wanted to drop Sosa to sixth in the batting order, it was well documented that Sosa fought him for what he considered his right to remain as the team's No. 3 or No. 4 hitter.
Then, later that same season, Sosa ditched the team on the final day of the regular season and then lied about it when it was brought to light by members of the press.
Even when Sosa was 37 and his numbers were in freefall, he felt the need to decline what he likely felt was too small an offer from the last place Nationals and opted to continue looking elsewhere. Gene Wojciechowski, a writer for ESPN.com, once said one could “probably steam a clam on Sosa’s forehead.”
Milton Bradley
5 of 10
Milton Bradley has proven that he can be one of the most difficult players to manage, regardless of which team he finds himself playing for. He's gotten into a countless number of fights with teammates, coaches and umpires alike, not to mention spoken very highly of himself throughout much of his career.
Regardless, Bradley thinks he's an all-star caliber player, “I want people to say Milton Bradley was a pretty good ballplayer and a pretty good person. Anybody who is going to stand between me getting there, then they need to be eliminated.”
Alex Rodriguez
6 of 10
Any player who opts out of his multi-million dollar contract during the World Series, only to resign with the same team for millions more will find himself on a ego list for the rest of his career and beyond.
In addition to his money-craving ways, Rodriguez's love for himself caught much of the public's eye when, in 2009, it was reported that Rodriguez had commissioned not just one, but two pictures of himself as a centaur, which various sources said were hanging above his bed.
A-Rod's desire to look at himself, craving for more money and lawyer-scripted, heartless apology speeches about steroids make him one of the most egotistical players in baseball history.
Brandon Phillips
7 of 10
Even during spring training of Brandon Phillips' rookie season with the Cleveland Indians, before he had even stepped foot onto a major league field, he was running his mouth.
Like Rickey Henderson, it's best to list some of Phillips' quotes rather than explain his actions.
On why he should make the Indians' roster, "Every time I get moved up, I always do good. The last two years—I played high A and went to Double-A, I did good. I went to Double-A again last year, I tore that league up, then I went to Triple-A. If I go to Triple-A again I'm gonna tear that league up and then come back to the big leagues. I don't want to be there again."
On how he feels about not being guaranteed a spot on the roster, despite not yet playing in the majors, "Honestly, I thought right now I'd have a job... I feel like I deserve it. That's how I feel. I'm just saying how it is."
Those who dislike Phillips can thank wide receiver Chad Ochocinco for Phillips' behavior. After making the big leagues, Phillips received some words of advice from the Bengals outspoken player, "Hey, man, you’re like the Ocho of baseball. You need to get your face out there and let the fans know who you are."
Roger Clemens
8 of 10
Roger Clemens isn't cocky in regards to what comes out of his mouth, but rather, the way he acts and perceives those around him.
Clemens' career-low ERA was 1.87, something he achieved at the age of 43. Yes, 43. If that's not proof enough that Clemens did steroids, the fact that one of Clemens' closest friends, Andy Pettitte, has gone on-the-record as saying "The Rocket" took steroids is.
But Clemens refuses to admit that he took steroids; that he cheated.
Clemens takes us for fools—you, me, Congress, his teammates. By not admitting his use, he's hoping to hang on to his career statistics and his shot at Cooperstown, and in doing so, is making all of the general public look like the bad guys for accusing him of something he never did, or so he says.
Bob Gibson
9 of 10
Hall of Famer Bob Gibson lived by the philosophy of, "You've got to have an attitude if you're going to go far in this game," something very evident to those who have followed his illustrious career.
Gibson was cocky because he knew he was one of the best. Here are some of Gibson's best quotes:
Manny Ramirez
10 of 10
Manny Ramirez's alter ego, "Manny being Manny," was created during his time with the Boston Red Sox.
He was known to take frequent phone calls and bathroom breaks inside of the Green Monster at Fenway in between innings, to toss balls into the stands with only two outs and to not hustle out of the box (he once hit a 375 foot single), among other things.
When Ramirez tested positive for steroids for a second time in 2011, he opted to retire rather than serve his suspension. It was likely Manny's ego that made him continue his use of steroids, as he needed to live up to both his reputation and his own self-standards.
Following the 2008 season, Ramirez thought so highly of himself that he and agent Scott Boras rejected the Dodgers' two-year, $45 million contract that would have made him the second highest paid player in 2009, behind only ego-maniac Alex Rodriguez.
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