FanPost

Opposition players you love(d) to hate

I was thinking the other day about Lenny Dykstra. He was a guy who I honestly loathed when he played against the Cubs, as much as I admired his baseball abilities. One game in particular comes to mind. It was the late 1980s or early 1990s, and the Cubs were tied with the Mets late in the game. Dykstra was on third. On a grounder to third, he broke for home. The Cubs should have had him out by a mile, but for some reason, he threw his arm up into the air as the throw sailed toward home, and the ball hit his arm and bounced away. Dykstra scored, and the Cubs lost. I couldn't figure out at the time why he wasn't called out for interference - maybe the umps missed the play. Anyway, I remember being furious at him, especially because he could get away with such mischief.

There were other opposition players I loved to hate over the years. Pete Rose comes to mind. Such a cocky guy. I remember baiting him from the bleachers when he played the outfield in a few games back when he was on the Expos in 1984.

Then there was (is) Barry Bonds. One time, either in his late days with the Pirates or early days with the Giants, I sat in the bleachers with all the other fans giving Barry hell most of the game. He ignored all of our "Barrry, Barrry" chants and other insults for almost the entire game, but after about 7 innings he'd obviously had enough. As we ragged him, he put his non-gloved hand behind his back and gave everyone in the bleachers the middle finger. Of course we jeered him even louder after that.

I also remember opposition players I really liked - notably Roger McDowell, who used to take a hose and spray down the bleacher fans on hot days. He also used to play catch with bleacherites during batting practice.

Which players from the opposition do you all remember hating (or liking) over the years?

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