25 MLB Players You'd Love to Take as Your Wingman to a Bar

MLB is filled with players who possess an amazing array of skill sets on the diamond—the proverbial five-tool players, the defensive wizards, the bullpen specialists, the jack-of-all-trades utility players and the power pitchers.

All of these skills are vital to the success of their teams, and each team would literally kill to have players of this ilk in order to contend year after year.

There are also the players who add character to the clubhouse—players who just with their personalities can shape the very culture and makeup of each team. The guy who’s the clubhouse clown, the guy who sets an example and the guy who is the playboy and gets all the hot chicks.

Which of these guys would you most want as your wingman when going to a bar? Bleacher Report will take a look at 25 MLB players who you would to have by your side on a night out on the town.

Kevin Millar

They call him the “Cowboy Up” kid.

During his playing days, Kevin Millar was the man to keep things loose in the clubhouse, the man who never had a problem laughing at himself and enlisting others in lightening up a serious mood.

Even now after his playing days, Millar has fun at his own expense with his MLB Network show, Intentional Talk, where his banter with co-host Chris Rose and players from around the league is must-see TV at times.

David Ortiz

Every time David “Big Papi” Ortiz enters a room, his smile lights up the space around him. His charismatic charm and positive outlook on life make him an instant magnet.

Plus, Big Papi simply has that “get it” factor—he can mix it up in conversation with any type of crowd and never seems to be out of place no matter what situation he’s in. Perfect guy to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with into a bar.

Babe Ruth

Let’s see, the great Sultan of Swat is one of the greatest power hitters that ever lived, and we all know that chicks dig the long ball. He could party with the best of them, and he was pretty good-sized, so not too many people would mess with you with the Babe around.

Can’t think of many guys who would be better hanging around at a bar with than the Babe.

Nyjer Morgan

So, you want into a bar with Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Nyjer Morgan, and things seem normal as you both order a beer.

Then, within minutes, Tony Plush appears. He starts going off into his inane tangents, barking out and screaming just ‘cuz he’s T-Plush, and soon, the entire bar is enthralled by his presence.

Just the wow factor alone makes Morgan the perfect wingman.

Dizzy Dean

A member of the Gashouse Gang of the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1930s, Dizzy Dean was the last 30-game winner in the National League, but Dean was also known for his colorful personality.

During a day game at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, when the temperature once reached 112 degrees, Dean lit a bonfire in front of the dugout to help keep his teammates “warm.”

Any guy who pulls of the kind of stunts Dean pulled off is a guy I want by my side at a bar.

Rabbit Maranville

Walter “Rabbit” Maranville was one of the best shortstops in baseball during the early days of baseball, playing most of his 23-year career with the Boston Braves.

Maranville was also known as the clown prince of baseball at the time, with practical jokes an everyday part of his life. Maranville once famously mimicked a newspaper hawker just outside Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, proclaiming the news that he had been fired as manager. Unfortunately for him, he was fired the following day.

I have a feeling Maranville could keep a bar filled with laughter for the entire night.

Logan Morrison

For a man whose words alienated the management team of the Miami Marlins, fans still can’t wait to see what is next to come out of the mouth of outfielder Logan Morrison.

LoMo famously tweeted last week that “my boy Prince” was headed to Seattle. Of course, everyone assumed that Morrison was leaking the news that free agent Prince Fielder was signing with the Seattle Mariners.

But, it’s LoMo we’re talking about here. He was referring to musician Prince, who was performing in the Seattle area at the time.

On Christmas Day, LoMo tweeted about an embarrassing situation regarding an adult-themed gift.

How could you not want this guy by your side in a bar?

John Kruk

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder John Kruk was clearly a man who liked to have fun. While everyone vividly remembers Kruk’s deer-in-the-headlights look when he faced fireballing left-hander Randy Johnson in the 1993 All-Star Game, Kruk had a highlight of stories and pranks during his playing days as well.

Kruk may be the only player who ever actually retired in the middle of the game, announcing his retirement after hitting a single and being lifted for a pinch-runner during a game with the Chicago White Sox in 1995.

Ralph Kiner

While today’s generation knows Ralph Kiner as a long-time voice for the New York Mets, he was a pretty fair player as well, hitting 369 home runs during his 10-year career.

However, in his 50-year career as broadcaster and analyst for the Mets, Kiner became legendary as one of the great storytellers in all of baseball. Kiner would absolutely be a thrill at a bar with his way of weaving stories.

Ozzie Guillen

Now that manager Ozzie Guillen has taken his talents to South Beach, he will no doubt thrill a new legion of fans with his quick wit, his occasional outbursts filled with expletives and his penchant for tweeting.

Now, just imagine bringing Ozzie to a bar and getting him a little “happy.”

Ryan Dempster

While no one in baseball is currently crowned as the “Clown Prince,” Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster could definitely be a candidate.

Dempster, who has occasionally done stand-up, is a complete cut-up in the clubhouse. Imagine Dempster at a bar with a few beers in him—that would be a fun night.

Johnny Damon

Ever since outfielder Johnny Damon’s days with the Boston Red Sox, his life has been wide open to public view. He and Kevin Millar were the foundation of the Red Sox teams in the mid-2000s teams that were termed “the idiots.”

Damon has never been shy when talking about his active social life, so no doubt he would be the life of the party at a bar when by your side.

Brian Wilson

Now, this one should be an absolute no-brainer.

Taking San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson to a bar would be akin to asking comedian Robin Williams to deliver the speech as the best man at your wedding—absolutely guaranteed to be memorable.

Dustin Pedroia

As the pesky second baseman of the Boston Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia has already collected many awards on his mantle—Rookie of the Year Award, MVP, numerous All-Star Game selections—and he’s still only 28 years old.

Above all that, Pedroia is just a flat-out funny guy and the type of guy who could go out and have an absolute ball, damn the consequences.

Casey Stengel

Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel was well-known for some of the most outrageous quotes in baseball history.

Some of the more silly and inane quotes:

“All right everyone, line up alphabetically according to your height.”

“Being with a woman all night never hurt no professional baseball player. It's staying up all night looking for a woman that does him in.”

“I was such a dangerous hitter I even got intentional walks during batting practice.”

How could you not want a guy like that with you in a bar?

Yogi Berra

While Casey Stengel was famous for Stengelisms, no one could match the vocabulary and sayings of Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra.

Imagine walking into a bar with Yogi and he says to a girl, “Hey baby, throw me a sign.”

Or, you walk into a bar with Yogi, he looks around, then says, “Nobody comes here anymore ‘cuz it’s too crowded.”

Sean Casey

Throughout his major league career with the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, first baseman Sean Casey became known as “The Mayor,” always keeping up an animated conversation with runners at the bag and yukking it up with his teammates.

A guy known as “The Mayor” is a guy I want by my side in any bar—you’ll always be around the center of attention.

Jim Thome

Throughout his 21-year career in MLB, Jim Thome has been widely considered the nicest guy in baseball and one of the classiest guys in all of professional sports.

Walking around with a guy like Jim Thome in a bar would instantly give you street cred.

Dallas Braden

When Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Dallas Braden stood up and called out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for running across the pitcher's mound on the way back to the dugout, he instantly got in A-Rod’s face about breaking an unspoken etiquette in baseball. Braden didn’t care who did it; he stood his ground.

That’s a guy I want by my side in any bar.

Brandon Phillips

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips has been a solid performer during his career, with three Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award and a two-time All-Star. With all of Phillips’ accolades as a player, he’s also a guy that totally “gets it.”

He’s engaging on Twitter, with almost 200,000 followers, he’s a joy to listen to in interviews with his candid demeanor and fun disposition and he’s his own man who simply has fun with everything he does.

Definitely a guy I want by my side in a bar.

Nick Swisher

New York Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher has fit right in with his brethren in the Bronx, has almost 1.5 million followers on his Twitter account and is now married to one of the hottest women on the planet (Joanna Garcia).

I can’t think of any reason why it would be a disadvantage to have Swisher as a bar wingman.

Jose Canseco

Now, many may be wondering why former outfielder-turned-steroid snitch Jose Canseco could possibly make this list, but just the shock value alone of walking into a bar with Canseco would draw a crowd.

Between the almost bipolar nature of his personality and everyone wanting to ask him about what player did what, Canseco as a wingman would certainly draw a crowd.

C.J. Wilson

Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson is a Southern California dude through and through. Always an entertaining interview, Wilson absolutely loves to have fun in whatever he does.

It has nothing to do with the fact that he’s now $77.5 million richer, and he’d be able to cover your bar tab.

Matt Kemp

Let’s see, he almost became the first player in 44 years to capture the Triple Crown, placed runner-up in NL MVP balloting and signed a nice fat eight-year, $160 million contract. But none of that is the reason that I want Matt Kemp as my wingman in a bar.

C’mon, the dude dated Rihanna. Imagine the stories he has to share!

Derek Jeter

Ever since Derek Jeter broke into the majors with the New York Yankees in 1995, his dating resume reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood.

Any guy who can date anyone from Mariah Carey to Minka Kelly and every bombshell in between is worthy of being my wingman in any bar in the world.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.