Category: Celebrities

Video games certainly aren’t just for “nerds” these days as they have become incredibly mainstream, especially when it comes to sports games. Celebrities aren’t shy about their passion for playing sports titles, and that includes the FIFA series, which launched back in 1993 before exploding in popularity during the 2010s.

We’ve seen plenty of celebs talk about their obsession with the football franchise, from playing Ultimate Team to taking on strangers online. Here are five celebrities who are obsessed with FIFA and how they’ve gotten involved with the game.

Snoop Dogg

If there’s one thing that Snoop Dogg loves more than rap music, it’s sports. More specifically, he’s obsessed with sports video games. While Madden remains his favorite sports game (he constantly plays it while streaming on Twitch), FIFA is still one that he loves to play with each new edition. Ever since he was included in the soundtrack back in FIFA 13, it’s been a favorite for the D-O-Double-G.

Snoop Dogg has even participated in charity FIFA events, including benefitting Doctors Without Borders in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Real Madrid and Manchester United are the teams that Snoop likes to play as on FIFA, and he says that he loves the reality of sports games. Don’t expect Snoop to play on anything besides Xbox, though, as it remains his favorite console.

Usain Bolt

There isn’t a runner that’s more accomplished than Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who has won a total of eight gold medals at the Olympics, doing so in a span between 2008 and 2016. Bolt has been on billboards, magazine covers, you name it, there is no single person more synonymous with the track than Bolt. When growing up, though, Bolt wanted to be a football star.

Bolt says that he was never given a fair shot at playing football, so he instead resorted to playing FIFA while training for his track events. Games like FIFA “helped my hunger to always want to win,” Bolt said. “But I feel like it in a way kinda helped out with the track and field, because now, when you get on the track, you have that same mentality as when you’re playing video games. You just want to win.”

Trevor Noah

As someone who was born in the mid-1980s, Trevor Noah was raised playing video games, and that includes FIFA. After John Stewart retired from “The Daily Show”, Trevor Noah took his spot as the host, but continued his love for video games, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Noah got into FIFA Ultimate Team pretty deeply on a yearly basis and even beat “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis in a charity tournament finals.

Noah said that he stopped playing Ultimate Team because he doesn’t like opening packs, but still plays online with the base players. Like many gamers, Noah has voiced his displeasure about being able to buy a better team and wants to play people straight-up without their 99 overall cards.

Drake

While hockey is more synonymous with Canada than any other sport, rapper Drake prefers football and basketball. Drake has been big into the NBA2K series while also getting into the FIFA series. Ever since the early 2010s, Drake has been playing each new edition of FIFA and has taken on several other notable celebrities.

For Drake, playing FIFA is the ultimate way to spend some downtime, and he has even appeared on the game’s soundtrack. At one point, Justin Bieber challenged him to a match, though it wasn’t met with a response. Drake has also teamed up with EA Sports for launch events, including appearing on stage at the release of FIFA 2014.

Becky G

American singer Rebecca Gomez, a.k.a. Becky G, released her first single back in 2013 titled “Becky from the Block” and has had a long list of hits since then including “Shower”, “Mayores” and “MAMIII”. For much of her professional career, Becky G has been in a relationship with Sebastian Lletget, a football star who has mainly played in Major League Soccer after coming up with West Ham United.

As part of getting into the football world, Becky G has gotten into the FIFA series and has talked openly about her love for both the sport and the video game franchise over the years. She was even part of the Trevor Noah vs. Jason Sudeikis face-off for charity, showcasing the skills that she’s learned.

It’s not uncommon for celebrities to take a fictional name for their professional careers. After all, they want to make it on their own and not rely on their parents or more distant relatives. For that reason, you may be surprised to learn about some popular actors, musicians and other celebrities that are descended from some pretty famous people.

Celebrities with surprising ancestors

1. Tom Hanks is related to Abraham Lincoln

Tom Hanks revealed to the “Daily Mail” in 2012 that he counts Abraham Lincoln among his ancestors. Lincoln’s mother’s name was Nancy Hanks and Tom Hanks told the “Mail” that “members of (his) branch of the family are either cousins or in-laws or poor relations”. Ancestry.com confirmed that Hanks is Lincoln’s third cousin, four times removed.

By the way, Hanks isn’t the only celebrity who can trace his ancestry back to Lincoln. Actor George Clooney is descended from Lucy Hanks, Lincoln’s maternal grandmother.

2. Harry Lloyd is descended from Charles Dickens

British actor, Harry Lloyd, best known for his work in “Game of Thrones” and “Doctor Who” is a distant relative of the 19th-century British writer Charles Dickens. His mother’s maiden name is Dickens and, through her, Lloyd is the great-great-great-grandson of Dickens. Lloyd’s mother is descended from the seventh of Dickens’ 10 children, Henry Fielding Dickens.

3. Edward Norton can trace his lineage back to Pocahantas

American actor Edward Norton discovered in 2022 that his 12th great-grandmother was Pocahantas, the 17th-century Native American woman who has been romanticized in the story of the Jamestown colony. Genealogist Henry Louis Gates Jr told Norton on the television program “Finding Your Roots,” “You have a direct paper trail, no doubt about it, connection to your 12th great-grandmother and great-grandfather, John Rolfe and Pocahontas.”

4. Marilyn Monroe and the Bush family

You wouldn’t naturally see a connection between iconic actress Marilyn Monroe and the political family that gave the United States two presidents and a Florida governor. However, the Bushes and Monroe have ancestors in common. The Bush family and Monroe are all descended from the same English immigrant who came to North America in 1620. Monroe is the ninth cousin, once removed, to our 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and the ninth cousin, twice removed, to the 43rd US president, George W. Bush.

5. Anna Chancellor and Jane Austen

British actress Anna Chancellor has appeared in dozens of movies and television series, including the British series “Pride and Prejudice”. That’s fitting since Austen is the eight times great aunt of Chancellor. Chancellor can trace her lineage on her mother’s side back to Edward Austen Knight, Jane Austen’s third eldest brother.

With such impressive lineages, it’s easy to see why these five celebrities have risen to the top of their professions. Perhaps you have an illustrious ancestor hidden in your family tree.

Are you dreaming of being a Broadway sensation and wondering how much that can put in your bank? Or are you just curious about the financial health of the supporting actors and dancers you see at Broadway shows are? Either way, read on to discover all.

The top earning Broadway star as of 2023 is Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose net worth is estimated at $80 million thanks to several hit Broadway shows, including “Hamilton.” The hip-hop musical about America’s early leaders won almost every Tony award and sold $3 million worth of tickets in its first week.

Other Broadway actors, singers, and dancers don’t make as much as the star and creator of “Hamilton.” Represented by the Actor’s Equity Association, non-starring Broadway performers will make a minimum of $2,638 per week in 2024. As of 2022, they made $2,034 a week, according to Playbill.

Top Earning Broadway Stars of All Time

Some top earning Broadway stars are multi-talented women who have had long careers on the stage.

• Angela Lansbury: Angela Lansbury was the TV star of “Murder She Wrote” between 1984 and 2003 and the voice of Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast,” but her heart was always on Broadway. She starred in numerous Broadway productions, receiving six Tony Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Angela started out making only $60 a week singing at a Russian nightclub and ended up with an estimated net worth of $70 million before her death at age 96 in 2022.
• Bernadette Peters: Another high-earning Broadway star is Bernadette Peters, who started out in 1959 at only age 10 appearing in the New York City Center’s revival of a classic play, “The Most Happy Fella.” In 1969, Bernadette won several awards for Outstanding Broadway Debut in “George M!” In 2021, Bernadette starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Disney+. Her net worth is $40 million as of 2023, according to The Richest.
• Julie Andrews: The British singer and actor starred as Maria Von Trapp in the “Sound of Music” on Broadway and in film. She’s also famous as Mary Poppins. Julie’s estimated net worth is $30 million and she made $225,000 per week in 1964 starring in “Sound of Music” on Broadway.
• Hugh Jackman: Tall, handsome Jackman, best-known as the X-Man Wolverine in Marvel films, is a multi-talented singer, actor and dancer who portrayed Harold Hill in “The Music Man” on Broadway between 2021 and 2023. Hugh earned $100,000 per week base pay in “The Music Man,” according to Playbill, plus a share of the gross ticket sales. As of 2023, Hugh’s net worth is estimated at $150 million to $180 million according to different wealth tracking websites.

Wide Range of Earning For Broadway Stars

People who appear in Broadway shows as supporting characters, singers, or dancers earn a minimum of around $2,000 per week. Stars who can bring audiences to the theater at ticket prices of $200 to $300 or more can earn 50 times that amount.  You can also earn even more if you combine being a star with being a creator, director, and producer like Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created and starred in “Hamilton.”

Connecticut only hosts about 1% of the U.S. population, but this tiny New England state has brought forth a lot of famous people. Wondering who the most famous people from Connecticut are? You might be surprised. Check out this star-studded list. 

1. Kevin Bacon

Critics have called Kevin Bacon one of the most talented actors to have never received an Oscar. However, even without an Academy Award, his list of accolades is long and includes a Teen Choice Award, an Emmy Award, an Italian Online Movie Award, a Golden Globe, and more. 

He first rose to international fame in the dance hit Footloose, and since then, he’s wowed audiences in so many movies that fans created a game about him. To play Six Degrees From Kevin Bacon, you simply pick a movie star (or even an everyday person) and name a string of connections until you get to Kevin Bacon. It’s surprisingly easy to draw lines between people, and inspired by the game, Bacon launched a charity of the same name. 

2. Glenn Close

Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Glen Close has been acting for over four decades, and she’s won awards on stage and screen. With eight nominations, she holds the title of most Oscar nominations without a win. Despite that, critics have praised her performances, and Time Magazine named her one of the world’s 100 most influential people. 

Her film debut was as Jenny Garp in The World According to Garp. Since then, she’s starred in countless films and plays, including The Big Chill, Fatal Attraction, Hook, 101 Dalmatians, and Hillbilly Elegy.

3. Katherine Hepburn

Born in Hartford in 1907, Katherin Hepburn died in Fenwick, Connecticut in 2003. However, in the nearly 100 years in between, she lived in Hollywood, traveled the world, and starred in films for 60 decades. 

She started in stock theater in Baltimore in the late 1920s, but just a few years later, she was landing roles in Hollywood films. Although she was unknown, she demanded a $1500 weekly salary, and the studio agreed. They knew she was a rising star. Some of her most notable films include Little Women, Woman of the Year, Adam’s Rib, The African Queen, and On Golden Pond — that’s right, those films span from the 1930s to the 1980s. 

4. Meg Ryan

Everybody’s sweetheart, Meg Ryan Born as Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra, Meg Ryan is a beloved star of some of the country’s favorite romantic comedies, such as When Harry Met Sally, French Kiss, and You’ve Got Mail. 

She explored directing with the film Ithaca in 2015. Born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, Ryan also attended the University of Connecticut before heading to New York University and eventually to Hollywood. When she joined the screen actor’s guild, she shortened her first four names to just “Meg” and she adopted her grandmother’s surname, Ryan.  

5. Sam Waterson

Even if you don’t know his name, you’ll almost certainly know his face. Sam Waterstone was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but the star is a long-time resident of Connecticut. He cut his chops doing Shakespeare on the stage, and he’s earned a Tony, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. He’s best known for playing Jack McCoy in Law & Order, but other notable roles include The Great Gatsby. Hannah and Her Sisters, and Grace and Frankie. 

The Seattle Mariners certainly don’t have the longest history for teams in Major League Baseball, but they have had a fascinating one. Over the years, the Mariners have had some memorable players that include Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, and, of course, Ken Griffey Jr. They’ve also had a lot of great players on the mound.

Seattle is known for seemingly always having one pitcher that dominates the rest of the league, even if the team isn’t successful at the time. Let’s take a walk down memory lane for the Mariners franchise and look at their five best pitchers in team history. Before we get to the lists, some of the pitchers that just missed the cut include Gil Meche, Joel Pineiro, Paul Abbott, and Mike Moore.

5. Mark Langston

The first pitcher on the list is Mark Langston, who got his start with the Seattle Mariners back in 1984 when he was 23 years old. Langston was actually a draft selection for the Chicago Cubs in 1978, but three years later was selected by the Mariners in the second round. Langston had a strong rookie season, posting a record of 17-10 with a 3.40 earned run average.

In total, Langston spent more than five seasons with Seattle as he was traded to Montreal during the 1989 campaign. Overall, Langston had a record of 74-67 with the Mariners and an ERA of 4.01 with one All Star Game appearance prior to his trade. Langston then went on to have a long career with the California Angels before retiring as a member of the Cleveland Indians in 1999.

4. Freddy Garcia

One of the best players to ever come from the country of Venezuela, Freddy Garcia signed with the Mariners when he came to the United States, and was just 22 years old when he made his debut with the team in 1999. Garcia shone in his rookie season, posting a record of 17-8 with 170 strikeouts, and finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Like Langston, Garcia was traded during his sixth season with Seattle, put it was a fine career that he had with the Mariners. He finished with a record of 76-50 in Seattle and an ERA of 3.89, striking out 819 batters. Garcia played for a total of seven franchises before retiring after the 2013 season.

3. Jamie Moyer

Not many people can say that they’ve played 25 or more seasons in Major League Baseball, but Jamie Moyer is one of those few people. After spending time with the Cubs, Rangers, Cardinals, Orioles, and Red Sox, Jamie Moyer came to the Mariners via trade in 1996 at the age of 33 and spent 11 different seasons in Seattle.

During that time, Moyer had more than half of his 269 career wins (145), posting an impressive win percentage of .625. Moyer also had an ERA under 4.0 and helped the Mariners have one of the finest seasons in MLB history in 2001 with a record of 20-6. Moyer played for eight teams in his MLB career, but many of his years were with the Mariners.

2. Felix Hernandez

Selecting the top two was the hardest part of the list, and the silver medal goes to “King” Felix Hernandez, the second player on the list from Venezuela. At just 19 years old, Hernandez joined the Mariners and got off to a strong start in his limited rookie campaign. Things only got better as Hernandez became the long-time ace for Seattle, spending all 15 of his MLB seasons with the franchise.

Hernandez put together some incredible seasons in Seattle, including his 2009 Cy Young-winning season where he posted a 19-5 record and 2.49 earned run average. In total, Hernandez finished with 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts to go along with his six All-Star appearances and two ERA titles.

1. Randy Johnson

“The Big Unit” may have come into the MLB with the Montreal Expos, but he’ll always be remembered for truly getting his start with the Mariners. Acquired in a 1989 trade, Randy Johnson spent 10 different seasons with Seattle, more than any other team during his illustrious career.

Johnson dominated while with the Mariners and finished with a record of 130-74 and a 3.42 earned run average. He was able to strike out 2,162 batters, as well, which is insane for less than 10 full seasons. Johnson may have won his World Series title with Arizona, but he’ll always be remembered as a Mariner.

It seems that during the 1990s, the Seattle Mariners were one of the best teams in baseball and that bled into the early 2000s. However, the franchise hasn’t had a ton of success outside of that time frame and has one of the worst win-loss records for any franchise in Major League Baseball. In fact, only the Orioles, Phillies, Rockies, Padres, and Marlins have worse winning percentages.

Because of the ups and downs that the Mariners have had, there have been quite a few managers that have been hired and fired. Out of the nearly two dozen managers that the Mariners have had, there are a few that stick out as actually helping the franchise move forward. Here are the five best managers in Seattle Mariners history.

5. Jim Lefebvre

The first manager on the list had a decently long MLB career as a player, spending eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before closing out his playing days in Japan. In 1989, Jim Lefebvre became a manger for the first time as he was introduced as the ninth manager in Seattle Mariners history, and the franchise needed a spark.

Lefebvre was able to provide that spark, as the team finished with a winning record for the first time in franchise history during Lefebvre’s third season. However, the team ultimately decided to let him go after the 1991 season, and he went on to manage the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Lefebvre finished his Mariners career with a record of 233 wins and 253 losses.

4. Bob Melvin

There are some managers that truly get around the game of baseball and end up leading multiple franchises, and Bob Melvin is one of them. Melvin has managed the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, and San Diego Padres during his career, but his first managerial job came as a member of the Seattle Mariners.

Melvin found a lot of success in his first season, putting up a record of 93-69. Things looked like they were heading in a good direction, but the Mariners lost 99 games the following season and Melvin was let go. It goes to show just how rough the Mariners have had it if one winning season as a manager gets you into the top four.

3. Lloyd McClendon

Another one of those people that seems to get around as a coach or manager in Major League Baseball, Lloyd McClendon was the leader of the Mariners franchise for two seasons in 2014 and 2015. This came after he had spent several seasons as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and prior to his stint with the Detroit Tigers.

After leaving the Pirates, McClendon was a long-time assistant in Detroit when he was hired to be the Mariners’ manager for those two seasons. Seattle finished with an 87-75 record in McClendon’s first season, but it was followed up with a 76-86 campaign, leading to the franchise and McClendon parting ways despite an overall winning record.

2. Scott Servais

Scott Servais was a long-time catcher in Major League Baseball, spending the bulk of his career behind the dish with the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs throughout the 1990s. He last played in 2001 with the Astros and went into front office work following his playing days, and said it was his dream to become a manager one day. Servais got his wish in 2016 when he was named the 20th manager in Seattle Mariners history.

Servais posted a winning record in his first season, though things would be up and down over his first few years. Despite a last-place finish in 2019, Servais is one of just two managers to have a winning record with at least three years at the helm in Seattle. In 2022, Servais led the Mariners to their first postseason appearance since 2001, putting together back-to-back 90-win seasons. 

1. Lou Piniella

Of course, you can’t talk about Mariners managers without mentioning “Sweet Lou” Piniella, the short-fused skipper that has had success at just about every stop. He spent the late 1980s and early 1990s with the Yankees and Reds, and ended his career with the Rays and Cubs, but much of his managerial career was with the Mariners, spending 10 seasons with the franchise.

Nobody in Mariners history has had a better record than Piniella, finishing at 840-711. Piniella was also the two-time recipient of the Manager of the Year Award in 1995 and 2001, remaining the only Mariners manager to win the award. Piniella is also just one of two managers to lead the Mariners to the postseason, finishing with 15 playoff games won.

In the early days of baseball, the closer position simply didn’t exist. Instead, pitchers that started the game would end up finishing it, and probably come back and pitch another nine innings a day or two later. These days, though, managers are changing pitchers throughout the entire game to get the best matchups, and the closer position has become an important one.

Since the advent of the closer spot, there has been a lot of great talent on the mound. Let’s take a look at the five best closers in MLB history. Before we get into the list, some of the honorable mentions include Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith, Aroldis Chapman, Rollie Fingers, and John Smoltz.

5. Billy Wagner

Those that started watching baseball during the mid-to-late 2000s might remember Billy Wagner better for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies or New York Mets, but fans from the late 1990s of National League Central teams certainly remember Wagner when he was with the Houston Astros. Wagner spent nine seasons with Houston and then played for four other teams during his 16-year career.

Over that time, Wagner didn’t make a single MLB start as he went straight into a closing role during his first full season. Wagner would finish with 422 career saves, including a whopping 44 during the 2003 season. Wagner also had an impressive earned run average of 2.31 in his career and was a seven-time All-Star.

4. Rich Gossage

Though his birth name is Richard, everyone will forever know Mr. Gossage simply as “Goose.” Gossage played for nine different franchises during his long MLB career, with much of that time being spent with the Yankees, White Sox, and Padres. Originally beginning his career as a starting pitcher, Gossage moved into the closer’s role in his fourth season, collecting 26 saves with Chicago.

Gossage would finish his career with a total of 310 saves and an earned run average of 3.01 over 22 seasons. Gossage had to wait a while to hear his name called for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but it finally happened for the nine-time All-Star when he was inducted in 2008. At the time, he had been on the ballot for nine seasons.

3. Dennis Eckersley

Winning the Most Valuable Player Award is difficult to do as a pitcher, especially since the position has its own award. Dennis Eckersley did just that, though, and also won a Cy Young Award in the process. Eckersley played in 24 different Major League seasons, making appearances for five different teams.

Much of Eck’s career was spent with the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics, combining for 17 seasons between the two franchises. Overall, Eckersley had an earned run average of 3.50 and notched 390 career saves. Prior to becoming a closer, Eckersley was a phenomenal starting pitcher and finished with a career record of 197 wins and 171 losses.

2. Trevor Hoffman

It’s easy to forget that Trevor Hoffman actually entered Major League Baseball as a member of the expansion Florida Marlins, but in his rookie season was traded to the San Diego Padres. A bit of a late bloomer, Hoffman made his MLB debut at 25 years old and instantly became the go-to for the Padres during the rest of the 1990s and almost the entirety of the 2000s.

Hoffman was a seven-time All-Star during his MLB career and was the two-time Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. He finished with a career record of 61-75, notching just over 600 career saves, and held a low earned run average of 2.87 with three different franchises, ending with Milwaukee in the 2010 season.

1. Mariano Rivera

Pretty much a unanimous pick for the top closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera was able to make a career out of having just one pitch: his cutter. Rivera was a member of the New York Yankees for all 19 of his Major League seasons, winning a whopping five World Series titles and five more Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year titles.

“Mo” was named to the All Star Game 13 times during his illustrious career and was an easy choice for the Baseball Hall of Fame. He would finish with the all-time record of 652 saves, carrying an ERA of just 2.21 while striking ou 1,173 batters with his devastating cutter. It’s unlikely we’ll see that type of career-long dominance from a closer again.

If there’s one sport in which you want to be a free agent, it’s baseball. Typically, teams will grant massive contracts, all of the money is guaranteed, and you tend to find a spot to call home for several years. However, not all players live up to these massive contracts, especially when they get to be eight years in length or longer. Then, there are those free agents that play well above their expectations.

Today, we look at some of the players that ended up being huge bargains for franchises, with some even leading them to championships. Here are our picks for the five best free agent signings in MLB history. Before we start the list, some of the honorable mentions include Manny Ramirez (Boston Red Sox), Roger Clemens (Toronto Blue Jays), Vladimir Guerrero (Anaheim Angels), and Adrian Beltre (Texas Rangers).

5. Reggie Jackson (New York Yankees)

The man that would eventually become known as “Mr. October” was an MVP with the Athletics organization, sticking with the team during their move from Kansas City to Oakland in the late 1960s. After a falling out with the team, though, Jackson departed prior to the 1976 season as he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles where he played for one season.

Heading into the 1977 season, Jackson found a new home in the form of the New York Yankees, with owner George Steinbrenner handing him $2.9 million over five years. That sounds like nothing now, but at the time it was a huge deal, and Jackson delivered. During his five seasons with the Yankees, Jackson had a batting average of .281 with 144 home runs, including many clutch postseason dingers that helped the Yankees win two World Series titles.

4. Larry Walker (Colorado Rockies)

Larry Walker was one of the many eventual greats that started with the Montreal Expos but was allowed to leave after the 1994 strike season. Walker was a one-time All-Star in Montreal, with a lot of teams vying for his services.

The Colorado Rockies took, what was at the time, a huge chance by giving Walker $22.5 million over four seasons. He certainly didn’t disappoint as he hit 126 home runs during his original contract despite missing half of one season. Walker stuck around for a total of 10 years in Colorado, hitting 258 home runs and winning an MVP Award.

3. Randy Johnson (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Though most associate Randy Johnson with the Seattle Mariners early in his career, The Big Unit actually came up with the Montreal Expos before being traded to Seattle during the 1989 Major League season. Johnson was a dominant force with the Mariners, winning 130 games in his 10 seasons and racking up over 2,100 strikeouts.

After the Mariners traded him to Houston to end the 1998 season, Johnson became a free agent and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks who shelled out a massive $52.4 million contract for four years (and a fifth-year option). Arizona broke the bank with their deal, but it ended up paying off as Johnson won 81 games during that four-year stretch and the 2001 World Series MVP.

2. Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants)

A star from the get-go with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Barry Bonds spent seven seasons with the team and won the 1990 MVP Award. After a second MVP title in 1992, the Pirates were simply too cheap to sign him to a long-term contract and he became a free agent.

Prior to the 1993 season, the San Francisco Giants signed Bonds to a six-year contract worth $43.7 million. At the time, that was an insane amount, but somehow, Bonds still exceeded the expectations on the contract. Bonds stuck around the Giants beyond his original contract and finished with a .312 batting average and 586 home runs as a member of the Giants in 15 seasons.

1. Greg Maddux (Atlanta Braves)

Greg Maddux originally came up as part of the Chicago Cubs organization after being a second-round draft selection and made his Major League debut in 1986 at just 20 years old. Maddux went on to become a two-time All-Star in Chicago and even won the Cy Young Award, but the team inexplicably let him walk.

Maddux then signed with the Atlanta Braves for five years and $28 million, which was not even close to the highest offer that he received as the Yankees offered $34 million. Maddux was a perfect fit in Atlanta where he went 194-88 with a 2.63 earned run average during his 11 seasons with the Braves en route to a Hall of Fame career. While $28 million was a lot at the time, it was certainly worth it, especially by today’s standards.

Every major sport in North America has a Hall of Fame, but none is more exclusive than baseball’s. Located in Cooperstown, New York, the Baseball Hall of Fame only truly selects the best of the best to make it to enshrinement, with writers selecting from a long list of former players each year, but often only getting one or two people selected.

As a result, there have been plenty of great players that have been left out. Unlike the Basketball Hall of Fame where someone that won a single Sixth Man of the Year Award can get in, you need to do a lot to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Here are the five best players that still haven’t been let in. Before we get into the list, some of the other greatest players that aren’t in the Hall of Fame include Curt Schilling, Joe Jackson, Manny Ramirez, and Mark McGwire

5. Alex Rodriguez

Why he should be in: It doesn’t matter what team Alex Rodriguez was playing with during his career, he was one of the best shortstops in the game, and was one of the best players at that position in MLB history. Rodriguez crossed just about every major milestone to get into the Hall of Fame, including knocking out just shy of 700 home runs over his 22-year career while having a .295 batting average.

Why he’s not in the Hall of Fame: Simply put, Alex Rodriguez is one of the few people that actually got caught using performance-enhancing drugs. That alone will likely keep him out of the Hall of Fame for good. 

4. Pete Rose

Why he should be in: No player in Major League Baseball history has more base hits than Pete Rose, which alone should get him into the Hall of Fame. Even with that out of play, Rose was still able to lead the Major Leagues in batting average on three different occasions while also winning two Gold Gloves, Rookie of the Year, an MVP Award, and three World Series titles while being named an All-Star 17 times.

Why he’s not in the Hall of Fame: Pete Rose was banned from baseball for life due to gambling on games while he was still a player/manager. The Baseball Hall of Fame followed suit and deemed him ‘permanently ineligible’ to be enshrined.

3. Sammy Sosa

Why he should be in: Sammy Sosa was one of the biggest reasons that people tuned back into baseball following the player’s strike, going toe-to-toe with Mark McGwire in 1998 for the new home run title. Sosa was an MVP with the Chicago Cubs and finished his career with 609 home runs and 1,667 runs batted in while being named an All-Star seven times and winning six Silver Slugger Awards.

Why he’s not in the Hall of Fame: Sosa was one of the many players that were brought in front of Congress during the steroid scandal of the 2000s. Sosa denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, but writers haven’t been convinced and have kept him out of the Hall of Fame.

2. Roger Clemens

Why he should be in: Roger Clemens played with four Major League teams during his 24-season career, including extended stops with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. During that time, Clemens was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Major Leagues, finishing with 354 career wins and 4,672 strikeouts. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards and an MVP while also adding a pair of World Series titles.

Why he’s not in the Hall of Fame: The story with Clemens is the same that it is for Sosa. There was always the suspicion that Clemens was on PEDs, and he testified that he hadn’t taken any. Even though he was found not guilty of perjury, Clemens has still been left out.

1. Barry Bonds

Why he should be in: Barry Bonds is perhaps the best hitter in Major League Baseball history. He was a 14-time All-Star that won a dozen Silver Slugger Awards across his career with the Pirates and Giants. During that time, Bonds hit a record 762 career home runs with a .298 batting average, but perhaps his most staggering stat is his on-base percentage of .444, which will never be topped in modern baseball.

Why he’s not in the Hall of Fame: Baseball writers simply didn’t like Bonds as the relationship between the two was often contentious. Bonds was also one of the main players in the BALCO scandal and was originally charged with perjury and obstruction of justice in the case, though the charges were dropped.