Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
Suppose I walk up to you and say, “What baseball teams hate each other?” Chances are, you’ll respond, “Red Sox and Yankees.” Yeah, yeah. That’s boring. They started hating each other before TV was even invented. There are a ton of other rivalries going on throughout the league. Here are 11 examples of teams that just DO NOT like each other … and that includes their fan bases.
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Dodgers vs. Giants: The Brawl That Began on Trolley Tracks
These guys hated each other when they were playing in the same city. Moving to the more sedate West Coast didn’t do a thing to calm things down. That whole Juan Marichal/John Roseboro thing proved that. Things have been tense from Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ’Round the World” to Clayton Kershaw matching up against Tim Lincecum.
Cardinals vs. Cubs: Bleacher Brawls and Goat Curses
These two teams have not liked each other for quite some time. At first, they were merely in the National League, then they were in the National League East from 1969 to ’93. When the league realigned in ’94, they put them together in the National League Central, where they have been ever since. Over the decades, they have had quite a few bench-clearing incidents, and there will be many more.
Mets vs. Braves: Chipper’s “Larry” and the Shea Stadium Boo Chorus
This rivalry really began in the late 1990s. Yes, the Mets did beat the Braves in ’69, but both teams were pretty bad throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Atlanta resurged in the early ’90s, and New York caught up around ’97. The rivalry truly ignited in ’99: Chipper Jones made his snarky remark about Mets fans being closet Yankee fans, John Rocker insulted ALL of Queens, and the rivalry reached a fever pitch when Kenny Rogers walked in the series-clinching run to end the ’99 NLCS. The two teams have hated each other ever since.
Dodgers vs. Padres: Slam Diego Swagger and Blue Crew Boos
What started as SoCal big brother vs. little brother turned into a full-on turf war—with grand slams, home run struts, and postseason stare-downs. Let’s not forget Manny Machado offering to meet some Dodgers in the parking lot. Just to talk, right?
Mets vs. Cardinals: Pendleton’s Pain, Wainwright’s Curve, and ’80s Bad Blood
This rivalry was born in 1985. The two teams fought to the wire for the National League East, with the Cardinals coming out on top. New York took that personally and crushed St. Louis under their heel like an ant in ’86. The crew from Flushing underachieved in ’87 but appeared to be on the verge of storming back and taking the division from the Redbirds. Then came Terry Pendleton. His go-ahead, two-run homer in September ’87 helped crush New York’s playoff dreams. The rivalry cooled off for a bit when St. Louis moved to the Central. Then came 2006 and Adam Wainwright’s curveball freezing Carlos Beltrán—and a whole city. Nearly 20 years later, Mets fans still hate the Cardinals.
Orioles vs. Yankees: Jeffrey Maier’s Glove and Baltimore’s Boos
No rivalry is complete without a touch of scandal, and for Orioles fans, nothing stings like teenager Jeffrey Maier stealing a home run for Derek Jeter in 1996. It was only the playoffs, after all. Maier is an adult now, but it’s not clear if he can ever visit Baltimore.
Dodgers vs. Astros: Trash Cans, Tattoos, and the Great Sign Steal
This isn’t just a rivalry—it’s a scandal for the ages. The 2017 World Series left Dodgers fans raging about trash cans and about a league’s leniency toward cheating. Fans haven’t gotten over it.
Red Sox vs. Rays: Tropicana Tantrums and the Cowbell Army
I was trying to think of the best image to use here. Was it Gerald “Ice” Williams charging at Pedro Martinez? Nah, it was this one of Coco Crisp cleanly sidestepping a James Shields punch after charging the mound. Seconds later, Jonny Gomes was hitting Crisp with some cheap shots while the Red Sox outfielder was under a pile of Rays. Gomes, ever the agitator, was involved in another brawl against the Rays years later, this time as a member of the Red Sox. There will continue to be bad blood.
Reds vs. Cardinals: Yadi’s Fury vs. Phillips’ Tap Heard ‘Round the World
All it took was Brandon Phillips’ bat tap on Yadier Molina’s shin guard to light the fuse. Benches cleared, tempers flared, and the NL Central got its most combustible feud. How bad was it? Back-up catcher Jason LaRue suffered a career-ending injury thanks to a kick to the head.
Mets vs. Yankees: Subway Series, Pizza Wars, and Divided Households
There are no fairweather fans in New York: You either root for the Mets or the Yankees. Try saying that you just root for “New York” and observe the looks of scorn you receive. While the Bronx Bombers usually treat the Flushing Crew like little brothers, there is a fierce rivalry, and the 2000 World Series showed that.
Mets vs. Phillies: Beanballs, Meltdowns, and Philly’s Unprintable Heckles
This one hurts. The Mets looked to avenge their 2006 loss to the Cardinals by winning the division. That didn’t happen, thanks to a late-season collapse that saw Philadelphia pull ahead. The same thing happened in ’08. That means that the two teams REALLY don’t like each other.