The Most Hated List

Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) throws out St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran (not pictured) during the first inning of game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mentions: Edgar Renteria, Dustin Pedroia, Chuck Knoblauch, Rafael Palmeiro

So why did these four draw such hatred from Indians fans, but not enough to make the list? Well, they each have compelling cases, but not enough to really say we despise them entirely.

Let’s start with Edgar Renteria. He played in only 38 games against the Indians in his career, but he did have one of the most painful and demoralizing moments we have experienced in the post Municipal Stadium era. His game winning hit off of Charles Nagy in game seven of the 1997 World Series is an image that none of us have gotten over. Other than that, not much else stands out about Renteria against the Tribe.

Dustin Pedroia is the youngest player I will mention. His gritty and scrappy style of play is admirable, but it can drive you crazy at the same time. His .326/.396/.451 slash line against the Indians has been part of the reason for their struggles against the Red Sox. He was also a key charachter in the most recent Indians post season collapse. If he was further along in his career maybe he’d be higher on this list, but he still has a lot of time left. Anything could happen.

Chuck Knoblauch. What is there to say about Chuck Knoblauch that hasn’t been said before. He had pedestrian numbers against the Indians in his career, .282/.367/.368 in 126 games, but there was always something that rubber Indian fans, and baseball fans in general, the wrong way. As rookie of the year for the Twins in 1991 AL Rookie of the Year for the Twins, it looked like he was going to torment us for years. Then the Twins fell on tough times, he demanded a trade, and eventually landed in New York. came down with “the yips” and hit Keith Olberman’s mom in the face with a baseball. Even Twins fans turned on Knoblauch post-trade by throwing hot dogs at him on return trips to the Metrodome.

Rafael Palmeiro. Steroids. That wanna be Keith Hernandez mustache. The annoying way he went back and forth between the Rangers and Orioles. There’s a lot to work with here, but the 31 home runs and 113 RBI against the Indians in his career was perhaps the most annoying. He just wasn’t very likable if he wasn’t playing for your team.