John Rocker was born on October 17, 1974, in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. He was a left-handed relief pitcher and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1993 MLB Draft.
MLB Debut: May 5, 1998, with the Atlanta Braves.
Best Season: In 1999, Rocker became the Braves' closer, finishing the season with 38 saves and helping the team reach the World Series.
Later Career: After leaving the Braves in 2001, he had short stints with the Cleveland Indians (2001), Texas Rangers (2002), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003) before his career declined due to injuries and control issues.
1999 Sports Illustrated Controversy
In December 1999, Rocker gave an infamous interview to Sports Illustrated, where he made offensive remarks about:
New York City: He mocked the city's diversity, saying he would never want to play there.
Immigrants & Minorities: He made derogatory comments about foreigners and different racial groups.
LGBTQ+ Community & Public Transport Users: He insulted people he saw on NYC subways.
The backlash was immense, leading to:
A suspension (initially 1 year, later reduced to 2 months).
A $20,000 fine.
Mandatory sensitivity training.
Booing and hostility from fans across the country.
Decline & Retirement
After the controversy, Rocker struggled with his performance. His control issues and declining velocity made him less effective. By 2003, he was out of MLB and had brief stints in minor and independent leagues before officially retiring.
Life After Baseball
Reality TV: He appeared on Survivor: San Juan del Sur in 2014, but was voted off early.
Book: He wrote a book called Scars and Strikes, discussing his career and controversies.
Media & Politics: He occasionally made controversial statements in interviews and articles, maintaining a right-wing, outspoken persona.
Legacy
John Rocker is remembered as one of MLB’s most controversial figures—a talented pitcher whose career was overshadowed by his personality and public remarks.