Most Brutal or Relentless Baseball Fans in Major League Baseball (MLB)
Let's dive into the most passionate — and possibly unruly — section of MLB fan bases! As the 2025 MLB season edges closer, the excitement building among fans is palpable. But some fan bases are known for more than just their love for hot dogs and peanuts. From name-calling to drink-throwing, a few teams have garnered a reputation for their aggressive displays of sportsmanship.
To separate fact from myth, we bypassed the hearsay and focused on the numbers. Utilizing a nationwide survey of 4,000 baseball enthusiasts, we created a weighted index, measuring key sportsmanship behaviors such as booing, injury cheering, and a general lack of empathy, to determine the most ruthless and kindest fan bases across the league.
The Rough Riders
- Miami Marlins have the #1 most 'hardball' fans with a ruthlessness score of 98.8/100
- Cincinnati Reds come in at #2 (96.4), while the Baltimore Orioles take third place (93.7)
Candy-coated Kindness
- Minnesota Twins fans are the most benevolent in the league, with a low aggression score of 1.1/100
When it comes to fan behavior, the National League East division has the most "hardball" fans of the 6 divisions. Contrastingly, the American League Central has the most peaceful fan bases.
Miami Marlins: More Than Just a Game
The heat isn't just on the field in Miami — it's boiling over in the stands too! Miami Marlins fans are crowned the "hardball" champions of the entire league, with an intense score of 98.8/100. One out of 22 admits to throwing punches with rival supporters, the highest rate in the league! It doesn't stop there — one out of three fans regularly engages in unsportsmanlike behaviors. Almost half (48%) feel zero empathy for the other team's losses, and 44% have no regrets about such behavior!
Cincinnati Reds: The Fiery Faction
Ranked as the 2nd most ruthless fan base (96.4/100), Cincinnati Reds fans aren't afraid to throw down... literally. One out of 20 Reds fans admits to getting into physical fights with rival fans, the highest rate in MLB. Sixty-two percent feel zero guilt about their past unsportsmanlike behavior, and the rivalry doesn't end at the ballpark. One out of five Reds fans takes their trash talk online, going after the opposing team's social media accounts.
Baltimore Orioles: The Unapologetic Avians
Ranked as the 3rd most "hardball" fans (93.7/100), Baltimore Orioles fans take no prisoners. They rank 1st in the league for cheering the most when an opposing player gets injured, the epitome of brutality! One out of 25 fans admit to throwing hands with rival supporters. If that wasn't harsh enough, 50% feel zero sympathy when the other team takes an "L".
Minnesota Twins: The Perfect Gentlemen
The Twins have the kindest fans in the MLB, with an almost perfect low-aggression score of 1.1/100. Eighty-seven percent of Twins fans steer clear of any insulting behavior, while 95% avoid trash-talking on social media — the highest in the league. When asked to rate their own sportsmanship, they humbly gave themselves a 4.1 out of 5 (5 being excellent). The Twins aren't just hitting home runs — they're knocking it out of the park in kindness!
MLB’s Most/Least "Hardball" Divisions
- National League East
- American League East
- National League West
- National League Central
- American League West
- American League Central
Unraveling MLB Fan Culture: Behaviors, Attitudes, and Loyalty
On average, MLB fans rate their sportsmanship level at 3.8, just a notch above decent. You're more likely to hear cheers than jeers, as the average fan clocks in a 2.4 average booing frequency. Following the positive vibes, only 19.6% trash-talk their rivalries on social media. However, 12.7% of baseball fans relish the sight of rival players getting injured, and 55.4% don't empathize with other teams' losses while 42.7% don't regret their poor sportsmanship behaviors.
Trash-talking is the most popular go-to unsportsmanlike behavior for a whopping 82%, while taunting comes in 2nd. Five percent might get sloppy with some food/drink tossing, or buckle down with a physical fight. When asked which MLB fan base they'd consider most aggressive from past experiences, New York Yankees are considered the most "hardball," with the Boston Red Sox following closely, and the Philadelphia Phillies on their heels.
Conclusion
Despite the variety of attitudes MLB fans may display, it's evident that their reactions stem from their intense passion for the sport and their team. After all, what's a ballgame without a little rivalry?
- The Miami Marlins, with their ruthlessness score of 98.8/100, are known for their aggressive displays of sportsmanship in the MLB, as they have the most 'hardball' fans.
- In contrast, Minnesota Twins fans are praised for their benevolence, having a low aggression score of 1.1/100, making them the most kind-hearted fans in the league.
- The National League East division takes the lead as the most "hardball" fans of the 6 divisions in MLB, while the American League Central has the most peaceful fan bases.
- Surprisingly, the Miami Marlins fans, known as the "hardball" champions, are more likely to engage in unsportsmanlike behaviors, with one out of three fans regularly participating.
- Conversely, Minnesota Twins fans are more likely to refrain from insulting behavior and trash-talking on social media, with 95% of Twins fans staying mum on these aspects.
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