Some of Baseball's Worst Moments

Based on a story from the Sporting News

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No, baseball isn't perfect being it's run, played, coached and umpired by humans.  Some of baseball's not so good moments:

Dave Kingman was a homerun hitter, but will forever be known for sending a gift-wrapped live rat to a woman reporter. That stunt pretty much ended his career.

Ted Williams didn't get along with sportswriters either and for his trouble he got snubbed for MVPs. in his Triple Crown seasons of 1942 and '47.

Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park and Nickel Beer Night at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium were1970's promotions to draw fans that turned into riots instead.

The Marlins' dismantling of the 1997 World Champions by Wayne Huizenga embarrassed baseball and Miami.  Similar to what the Padres did in '98 in order to get a new stadium vote passed.

Commissioner Ford Frick ordered an asterisk to qualify Roger Maris' record 61 home runs. As Maris later said, "They acted as though I was doing something wrong, poisoning the record books or something."

Juan Marichal beat John Roseboro with a bat during the 1965 pennant race. Roseboro later forgave Marichal publicly, helping the pitcher get in the Hall for Fame.

The meddling Yankees owner George Steinbrenner paid a known gambler $40,000 for dirt on Dave Winfield. He was suspended and banned from running the day-to-day operations. The gambler went to prison.

Selig's contraction announcement to eliminate two teams two days after the conclusion of the great 2001 World Series is not for the fans. It's to help the rich get richer.

Pete Rose allegedly bet on baseball. He should apologize and he should be put in the Hall of Fame. Pete's lifetime achievements include being first in number of games played, first in at bats, first in hits, second in doubles, sixth  in total bases, fourth in runs scored, seventh in fielding pct. among outfielders. Cooperstown deserves Rose; Rose deserves Cooperstown.

The reserve clause meant that for nearly100 years players were unable to change teams. The owners ran a "baseball plantation of slaves."

Collusion in the 1980's led to the current labor troubles and lack of faith by the players. The owners were found guilty of conspiring to hold down salaries on three occasions.  Expansion in the 1990's to Florida franchises and Arizona happened to collect fees that would help offset the $280 million they owed in collusion damages. These teams all have financial problems now.

The cancellation of the 1994 World Series from that strike. As President Bill Clinton said, "It's just a few hundred folks trying to figure out how to divide $2 billion." 

The Black Sox scandal from so long ago is still baseball's worse moment.