MLB’s Most Ruthless and Most Friendly Fan Bases Revealed

As baseball fans gear up for the 2025 MLB season, excitement fills stadiums across the country. While the classic anthem encourages fans to “root, root, root for the home team,” not all enthusiasm is created equal. Some Major League Baseball fan bases are notorious for their no-holds-barred attitude, ramping up the competition with fierce heckling, raucous booing, and even confrontational behavior. A new study explores which MLB fans are the most relentless—and which are the most welcoming in the league.

Inside the Data: How MLB’s Most Aggressive Fans Were Identified

To separate myth from reality, a comprehensive survey was conducted in March 2025, gathering insights from 4,000 self-identified MLB fans nationwide. Using a detailed, weighted index, the study evaluated fan bases based on:

• Booing frequency
• Cheering for injuries
• Incidence of poor behaviors (trash-talking, taunting, etc.)
• Trash-talking on the opposition’s social channels
• Lack of remorse for bad behavior
• Absence of empathy for rival teams’ losses
• Fans’ own assessment of their sportsmanship

The result? A definitive ranking of MLB’s toughest—and kindest—fan bases, backed up by data rather than hearsay.

2025’s Hardest and Most Hospitable MLB Fan Bases: Key Insights

• Miami Marlins have earned the title of MLB’s most hard-nosed fans, scoring 98.8 out of 100 on the ruthlessness scale.
• Cincinnati Reds come in second, followed by the Baltimore Orioles in third place.
• The Minnesota Twins fan base stands out as MLB’s friendliest, with the lowest aggression score in the league—just 1.1 out of 100.
• At the divisional level, the National League East claims the most intense supporters, whereas fans from the American League Central are the most good-natured.

The Most ‘Hardball’ Fans: A Closer Look at the Top and Bottom of the List

Miami Marlins fans steal the show as the league’s most hard-edged supporters. Data shows that 1 in 22 Marlins fans admit to engaging in physical altercations with supporters of other teams—the second highest leaguewide. Over 30% are involved in unsportsmanlike behavior, and nearly half display no empathy when their rivals lose. Furthermore, 44% of Marlins fans express no regret over these actions, making for a lively if not intimidating ballpark experience in Miami.

Coming in just behind are the Cincinnati Reds. Their loyalists lead the league in physical confrontations, with 1 in every 20 fans acknowledging a fight with rivals. The Reds’ base also stands out for its online presence: 20% actively trash-talk opponents on social media. A remarkable 62% have no remorse for their conduct, demonstrating that, in Cincinnati, fan rivalry goes far beyond the foul lines.

The Baltimore Orioles hold the third spot, recognized for their aggressive antics, both at the stadium and online. Orioles supporters are more likely than any other group to cheer injuries sustained by opposing players. One in 25 fans confess to getting physical with rival attendees, and half express zero sympathy for the losses suffered by other teams. Clearly, Orioles fans are not afraid to ruffle feathers both on and off the field.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Minnesota Twins fans distinguish themselves as the league’s most courteous. With only a 1.1 aggression score, nearly nine out of 10 Twins fans avoid any kind of verbal insults at games, and 95% shun trash-talking on social platforms. When evaluating their own behavior, Twins fans rate themselves an average sportsmanship of 4.1 out of 5, topping the MLB’s kindness charts.

Division Showdown: Where the Most Intense Fans Reside

When comparing MLB’s divisions by fan temperament, patterns emerge that speak to regional rivalries and traditions. Here’s how each division ranks by overall fan aggression:

Breaking Down MLB Fan Behavior: Attitudes, Sportsmanship, and Team Loyalty

What does the typical MLB fan look like statistically? On a sportsmanship scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), the average fan rates themselves at 3.8. Booing isn’t as constant as you might think—fans average 2.4 out of 5 in booing frequency, and fewer than one in five admit to trash-talking on social media.

The survey also reveals darker aspects of fandom. About 12.7% of fans enjoy when opponents’ players get injured, 55.4% don’t sympathize after an opposing team’s loss, and over 42% confess to never regretting unsportsmanlike actions. Trash-talking (82%) and taunting (55%) are the top negative behaviors, with a smaller minority (5.4%) involved in food or drink tossing, and an even smaller 2.1% engaging in physical fights.

Interestingly, when asked to name the toughest MLB fans based on their own experiences, respondents pointed to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox fans as major contenders, with the Philadelphia Phillies rounding out the top three. These East Coast bases leave quite the impression nationwide.

Loyalty also runs deep: 42% of surveyed fans say they would support their team even if it was caught up in misconduct or scandal, 40% would feel indifferent, and only 18% would consider breaking their allegiance.

How the Study Was Conducted

The findings are based on a survey of 4,000 MLB fans across the United States, conducted in March 2025. The researchers developed a weighted aggression index with the following factors and their assigned weights:

• Physical altercations (25%)
• Cheering for injuries (15%)
• Antisocial behavior, such as trash-talking and taunting (15%)
• Lack of remorse for bad actions (15%)
• Absence of empathy after rival teams’ defeats (15%)
• Booing frequency (5%)
• Online trash-talking on rival social accounts (5%)
• Self-reported sportsmanship (5%)

Respondent demographics: The average age was 41.3 years, with participants identifying as 60.1% male, 38.8% female, 0.8% non-binary, and 0.3% transgender.

Understanding the Passion Behind MLB Fandom

The world of MLB spectators is varied, passionate, and—at times—divisive. The intensity displayed in stadiums and online proves that, for many, baseball is more than a pastime; it’s a way of life. These rivalries, whether spirited or stinging, ultimately add color to the sport, ensuring every season is memorable for fans and players alike.

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