Who Has The Most Ejections In MLB History? A Look At Baseball's Most Tossed Managers

So, if you've ever wondered about the ultimate record for getting kicked out of a game, especially among the leaders of the dugout, you're certainly not alone. There's a particular kind of manager who just couldn't seem to avoid those heated arguments with umpires, and their records stand as a testament to their passion, or perhaps, a bit of their stubbornness. We're talking about the individuals who, in a way, made getting tossed an art form, really.

As we prepare for baseball's 2025 season, it's a good time to look back at some of these legendary figures. Some of the greatest managers in baseball history also happen to have the most ejections, which is rather interesting to consider. It goes to show that intense involvement and dedication can sometimes lead to a manager being asked to leave the field, you see.

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Table of Contents

• The Undisputed Leader: Bobby Cox
• Bobby Cox: A Closer Look
• The Elite Club: Managers with 100+ Ejections
• Why Do Managers Get Ejected? The Most Common Reasons
• Ejections Through the Years and the Impact of Expanded Replay
• Active Leaders and Players Who Get Tossed
• Frequently Asked Questions About MLB Ejections

The Undisputed Leader: Bobby Cox

When it comes to the most ejections in Major League Baseball history, one name stands head and shoulders above the rest: Bobby Cox. This former Atlanta Braves manager holds the record with an astounding 162 career ejections. That's a lot of trips to the clubhouse before the game was over, you know. He managed the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays from 1978 to 2010, and during that long stretch, he certainly made his presence felt in the dugout and, quite often, in heated discussions with umpires.

The major league baseball record for most times ejected from a game is 161 by Bobby Cox (USA) managing the Toronto Blue Jays (Canada) and Atlanta Braves (USA) from 1978 to 2010. It's actually, a truly remarkable number, when you think about it. For some context, getting tossed 161 times is like getting thrown out of every single game for a full season, and then some. This record includes only ejections as a manager, so it does not count any times he might have been ejected as a player or as a coach.

Cox's fiery approach was a hallmark of his managerial style. He was, in a way, known for his intense involvement in games, and his willingness to stand up for his players or argue a call he felt was wrong. This dedication, while sometimes leading to his early exit from a game, also earned him a great deal of respect from his team and fans. He was, apparently, a manager who simply couldn't stop getting kicked out of games, and that became a part of his legend.

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Bobby Cox: A Closer Look

Bobby Cox's career was quite extensive, spanning several decades and making a significant mark on the game. His tenure with the Atlanta Braves, in particular, was a period of sustained success, marked by numerous division titles and a World Series championship. It's really, quite a legacy he built, beyond just the ejections.

Cox's consistent presence in the dugout, and his frequent clashes with umpires, truly made him a figure to watch. He was, very, very good at managing, and also quite good at getting tossed, which is a unique combination. His passion for the game was evident in every argument, and that's something fans often appreciate.

The Elite Club: Managers with 100+ Ejections

While Bobby Cox stands alone at the top, he's not the only manager to have accumulated a truly impressive number of ejections. In fact, only two other managers in Major League Baseball history have reached the century mark for career ejections, joining Cox in a very exclusive club. These individuals were, in some respects, pioneers of managerial intensity, you know.

Here's a look at the managers with the most ejections in MLB history, as of the current 2025 season:

1. Bobby Cox: 162 ejections
2. John McGraw: 121 ejections
3. Leo Durocher: 100 ejections

John McGraw, who had 41 fewer ejections than Cox, is ranked second on this list. He was also a manager known for his fiery personality, and he holds the distinction of being ejected 11 times in two different seasons (1905 and 1906). That's a lot of ejections for those early days of baseball, when, apparently, things could get pretty heated.

Leo Durocher rounds out this elite group with exactly 100 career ejections. These three managers, Cox, McGraw, and Durocher, are the only ones with at least 100 career ejections. They represent a certain era of baseball, where arguments and confrontations were, perhaps, a bit more common and tolerated.

Just shy of the 100-ejection mark are other notable names, managers who also had a reputation for their spirited interactions with umpires. Earl Weaver, for instance, accumulated 96 ejections, and Tony La Russa had 93. Bruce Bochy is also on the list, though his exact number isn't provided here, but he's certainly known for his intense approach to the game. These managers, in a way, are all part of the fabric of baseball's more confrontational moments.

Why Do Managers Get Ejected? The Most Common Reasons

It's pretty simple, actually, when you look at the main reason managers get tossed from a game. The most common reason for ejections, throughout baseball history, is for arguing balls and strikes. This is especially true because MLB has a rule saying that arguing balls and strikes is grounds for immediate ejection. So, if a manager steps out of the dugout to dispute a call on a pitch, they're often inviting a quick exit.

Managers often feel a deep sense of responsibility to protect their players and challenge calls they perceive as unfair. This passion, while admirable, can sometimes boil over into direct confrontation with the home plate umpire. These arguments, more often than not, wind up with the manager getting kicked out of the game. It's a classic scenario, you know, played out countless times on baseball fields everywhere.

Beyond balls and strikes, managers can also be ejected for arguing other calls, unsportsmanlike conduct, or even for simply being too vocal from the dugout. The heat of the moment, with tensions built up over a long and grueling schedule, can sometimes lead to these outbursts. Baseball does, after all, feature the longest and most grueling schedule in North American professional sports, and that can certainly contribute to frayed nerves.

Ejections Through the Years and the Impact of Expanded Replay

Ejections are a fascinating part of baseball, and some have led to truly memorable confrontations. These moments, like the famous tirade of Earl Weaver against Bill Haller, are readily accessible in various electronic archives. You can, for instance, find clips of these heated exchanges, which really, really show the passion involved.

Perhaps surprisingly, reliable information on ejections has been available only sporadically throughout history. Research is still ongoing, and we'll continue to publish updates as more information becomes available. This means that while we have solid numbers for many, there might be historical gaps that researchers are still working to fill. It's a bit of an evolving historical record, in a way.

The introduction of expanded replay in MLB has, arguably, had an impact on the nature of ejections. With more calls being reviewable, some of the immediate, heated arguments over factual plays might have lessened. However, the core issue of arguing balls and strikes, which remains unreviewable, still provides plenty of opportunities for managers to get tossed. The human element of umpiring, and the manager's reaction to it, is still very much alive and well, you know.

Active Leaders and Players Who Get Tossed

It's not just players and managers that can get tossed, but manager ejections only include ejections as manager, excluding ejections as a player or as a coach. While the focus here is on managers, it's worth noting that players also get ejected, and some have quite the reputation for it. As we prepare for baseball's 2025 season, we can also look at who the major league's most ejected active players are.

Bryce Harper, for example, took the hothead crown in 2019, and people might wonder how he stacks up six years later heading into spring 2025. He has 10 more ejections than San Diego Padres star Manny Machado, who was tossed two times in 2024 to move up to second on that active player list. Francona, a manager, still has a long way to go before he records and makes history for the most ejections, which is a bit of a relief for his team, I suppose.

These MLB hotheads, whether managers or players, are known for getting into fights and arguments. There have been many incidents that occurred between the figures on this list, and they certainly add to the drama of the game. Each of these coaches brought a unique approach to the game, and their ejection records are a testament to their intense involvement and dedication. For more fascinating insights into baseball's history, you might want to explore historical baseball statistics.

Frequently Asked Questions About MLB Ejections

People often have questions about ejections, especially when it comes to the numbers and the reasons behind them. Here are a few common queries, which, you know, pop up quite a bit.

Q: Which current MLB player has the most career ejections?

A: While the exact current active player leader isn't explicitly named with a total number in the provided text, Bryce Harper is mentioned as having taken the "hothead crown" in 2019, and he has 10 more ejections than Manny Machado, who was tossed twice in 2024. This suggests Harper is likely among the active leaders, if not the top.

Q: How many managers have 100 or more career ejections in MLB?

A: Only three managers in Major League Baseball history have accumulated 100 or more career ejections. These are Bobby Cox (162), John McGraw (121), and Leo Durocher (100). It's a very small, very exclusive group, really.

Q: What is the main reason MLB managers get ejected from games?

A: The most common reason for ejections, throughout baseball history, is for arguing balls and strikes. MLB has a specific rule stating that arguing these calls is grounds for immediate ejection, which, you know, makes it a frequent flashpoint.

To learn more about baseball's rulebook on our site, and to link to this page managerial tactics, you can explore other articles we have.

So, there you have it. Bobby Cox stands as the undisputed champion of ejections in MLB history, a true testament to his passion and willingness to fight for his team. His record, and those of other fiery managers, are a colorful part of baseball's long and storied past.