5 most hated Phillies players of all time

Every professional sports team has its heroes and villains. For every franchise-defining legend, you can find a just as infamously despised player whom fans turned against. Some players are so hated that fans have a hard time forgiving and forgetting, even years later.

The Philadelphia Phillies are no different. The franchise has had plenty of players who are remembered positively and revered in the hearts of fans. However, more than a few have also drawn the ire of the Phillies faithful and may never be forgiven in the city of brotherly love.

Every Phillies fan will have their own list of players they hate. But who are some of the universally disliked players in the organization's history?

Here are the top five most hated Phillies players of all time.

No. 5: Odúbel Herrera

Odúbel Herrera did fairly well offensively for the Phillies with a slash line of .297/.344/.418 during his rookie season in 2015. He followed that up with a .286/.361/.420 line during 2016 and a line of .281/.325/.452 in 2017.

Herrera's struggles started in 2018 with a .255/.310/.420 line, followed by a slash line of .222/.288/.341 during 2019. He only played in 39 contests that season, as the organization placed him on administrative leave following an arrest for domestic violence. A month after the incident, the league announced he would be suspended for the remainder of the season. The Phillies designated the centerfielder for assignment the following offseason.

In 2021, Herrera began the year with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs but was promoted when the team needed another outfielder. He finished with a .260/.316/.410 slash line. Philadelphia re-signed him to a one-year deal before the 2022 season. He finished with a pedestrian line of .238/.279/.378 in 62 games. Due to a drop in productivity, injuries, and a domestic violence incident, his career, which looked bright following his rookie year, gradually fizzled.

No. 4: Scott Rolen

Scott Rolen appeared like he would be an integral part of the club's rebuild toward being a contender. He debuted for the Phillies in August 1996. In his first full season in the majors the following year, he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Rolen did not get along with Phillies manager Larry Bowa, who became the skipper in 2001. The third baseman believed the organization was not doing all it could to become a contender. He rejected a hefty extension from the Phillies during the offseason following the 2001 season as he grew tired of the team's promises to put a better team around him to contend.

The Phillies ended up trading Rolen, minor league pitcher Doug Nickle, and cash to the St. Louis Cardinals for third baseman Placido Polanco, starting pitcher Bud Smith, and reliever Mike Timlin on July 29, 2002.

While it appears some of the Philly fanbase have moved on from their dislike of the third baseman following his entry into the Phillies Wall of Fame last season, his comments during his unhappiness with the organization made many fans angry with him for the duration of his playing career.

No. 3: Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon became the Phillies' all-time leader in saves during his tenure with the ballclub from 2012 to 2015. While he was good in his role throughout his playing career, his opinionated and controversial nature was vexing for some fans.

Following a 2014 outing in which he exited after blowing a save, the reliever chose an inopportune time to adjust his cup as it appeared he made a rude gesture in response to a booing crowd at Citizens Bank Park. Papelbon ended up being ejected from the contest by umpire Joe West and subsequently received a seven-game suspension.

Papelbon was unhappy with former general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., as the reliever signed with the organization to contend for a championship. Instead, the club had an aging core that began to show signs of decline from its years of competing. The closer didn't hold back in his criticisms of the organization during his time with the team or in comments made over the last couple of years.