The 20 Greatest Hard-Drinking Athletes of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Sport (Years Played): Basketball (1993-2006)
Accolades: 4x NBA All-Star, 1997 All-NBA Second Team

Vin Baker had a pretty good upbringing. He was raised with a pastor father in the very nice neighborhood of Old Saybrook, CT, became a college star, made four All-Star teams, but somewhere in the middle of his NBA career, it all fell apart. Baker's alcoholism was first revealed in 2003. He was suspended by the Boston Celtics, and the Celtics insisted that Baker go get treatment for the rest of the 2002-03 season in a 28 day program at Silver Hill hospital in Connecticut.

The next season Baker attended AA meetings and underwent testing for alcohol abuse. Baker's career faded very quickly after his alcoholism became public. He has made progress to recover, but he did have a setback in 2007 when he was arrested for drunk driving after his playing days ended. #driveslowhomie

Sport (Years Played): Hockey (2007-Present)
Accolades: 2010 Stanley Cup Champion, 2010 First Team NHL All-Star

Who cares if Patrick Kane got rowdy with a bunch of Madison coeds and caused a public disturbance? He won the 2007 CHL Rookie of the Year and the man takes some damn good party photos if you ask us. The Blackhawks obviously didn't like all the attention their young star garnished but hey work hard, play hard, right? Don't worry, while Kane said he was embarrassed by the photos that surfaced on the Internet, he was quick to make clear that he doesn't think he has a drinking problem. That's good news, check back with us in a few years Patrick, we'll see if it's still considered youthful innocence to be caught raging on college campuses. He shoots, he scores.

Sport (Years Played): Basketball (1999-Present)
Accolades: 2010 NBA Champion, 2004 NBA All-Star, 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

You have to give the guy props for being honest. Some athletes prefer drinks like Gatorade and water during half-time, others like Ron Artest, prefer to drink Hennessy in the locker room. To each his own, right? Queens born and bread, Metta World Peace is a lock-down defender and was an integral part of the Lakers 2010 championship squad, but this badass is also remembered for one of the darkest blemishes in NBA history.

Nobody will forget the beer cup heard 'round the world that plunked Artest while he was laying on the scorers table during an '04 game between the Pacers and Pistons at the Palace; the spark that sent the madman into a rage that ended with a full on brawl in the stands with fans and multiple player suspensions. Let's not make such an issue of Artest drinking at half-time, it was Chicago, and clearly nobody in L.A. cares. Besides, that was Ron Artest, this is Metta World Peace.

Sport (Years Played): Racing (1973-1979)
Accolades: 1976 British Formula One Champion

"Hunt the Shunt" was really a king among men. The two weeks leading up to the '76 F-1 World Motor Racing Championship were spent on round-the-clock booze consumption, and a marijuana and cocaine binge that would put Lindsey Lohan to shame. Of course Hunt went on to win the race, like there was ever a doubt.

That's just the tip of the iceberg really though, Hunt also slept with 33 British Airways flight attendants before that victory, including minutes before the race. Talk about taking a lap. The Brit was also said to have slept with 5,000 women in his lifetime. If you didn't know James Hunt before, you best recognize now. Today's ballers can talk all the game they want, pretty sure this dude (and Wilt) takes the checkered flag when it comes to athletes getting theirs.

Sport (Years Played): Basketball (1994-Present)
Accolades: 2011 NBA Champion, 10x NBA All-Star, 5x All-NBA First Team, 4x NBA All-Defensive First Team

Jason Kidd is currenly ranked second in all-time assists in NBA history (11,842). One record Kidd holds all to his own is the fastest DWI arrest after signing a new contract with a new team in the NBA. Kidd signed with the New York Knicks on July 5 of this year and was arrested just 10 days later for DWI. This is Kidd's second run-in with the law. In 2001, he was arrested for a domestic violence charge. Kidd's ex-wife Joumana has claimed that the guard had issues with alcoholism throughout the course of their marriage.

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (2007-Present)
Accolades: 2010 AL MVP, 5x MLB All-Star

Josh Hamilton was the prized first pick of the 1999 MLB Draft. It took Hamilton a total of eight years to make it to the Major Leagues and it was completely due to his off the field struggles. Hamilton had grown substance addictions and struggled with rehabilitation. Eventually, the slugger was able to get himself clean and became a huge success story in the MLB winning the 2010 AL MVP.

Hamilton has had a few slip ups even with the newfound success. In August of 2009, it was revealed that the outfielder had relapsed and photos of him partying soon surfaced. His second slip-up was this year, when he admitted to having "two or three drinks" at a local bar. We're rooting for you, fam.

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1950-1961 Player) (1969-1988 Manager)
Accolades: 1956 MLB All-Star, 5x World Series Champion

Former New York Yankee manager Billy Martin is infamous for a lot of things. He was notorious for his fights with players like Reggie Jackson, his classic arguments with umpires, and his constant battles with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Many in the New York media speculated whether Martin's fiery personality was fueled by alcohol and many in the public naturally believed this. Martin's drinking habits were notorious and unfortunately alcohol played a role in his death, as he died in a car crash where the driver, William Reedy, was found to have been drunk.

Sport (Years Played): Football (1981-1993)
Accolades: 2x Super Bowl Champion, 1986 NFL MVP, 10x Pro Bowler

The original LT was arguably the best linebacker in NFL history with his crushing hits on defense and his overall athleticism. When asked what he could do that no other outside linebacker could, Taylor responded: "Drink."

LT was known for his willingness to explore and find adventure. Some people view adventure differently from LT because most people don't go on alcoholic binges or pick up underage prostitutes. #yikes #justsayin'

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1984-2000)
Accolades: 3x World Series Champion, 4x All-Star, 1985 NL Cy Young Award Winner

Dwight "Doc" Gooden was on top of the world in New York for quite some time. He was the ace and pitching phenom of the 1986 Mets World Series squad and he picked up a few more rings with the Yankees later on. Gooden was notorious for his drug use during his playing days, but alcohol became his fix after his baseball career ended. He was first arrested in 2002 for DWI, and in 2005 Gooden drove off after being stopped by an officer who reported that he had glassy and bloodshot eyes, as well as slurred speech. In 2010, Gooden was charged with DWI again. He even made an appearance on Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab in 2011. You know it's real when your problems make it to reality TV.

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1983-1999)
Accolades: 8x All-Star, 4x World Series Champion

Darryl Strawberry was that dude in New York during the '80s. His profile was heightened by the Mets' World Series win in 1986 and it seemed like he'd remain dominant for years to come. Unfortunately, with the fame and high profile of playing in New York, Darryl was unable to get away from the temptations of substance abuse. While Darryl was more known for his cocaine abuse, and his arrests have been centered around hard drug use, Darryl has noted his habit of abusing both alcohol and cocaine. Can't knock him for being honest.

Sport (Years Played): Hockey (2001-Present)
Accolades: 5x NHL All-Star, 2x NHL MVP

They say vodka is in the blood in Russia, so why does everyone make a big deal about Alex Ovechkin's drinking habits? OV is an All-Star and a two-time league MVP, doesn't that merit a drink or two from time to time? So he got a little wasted at an autograph signing at Wayne Gretzky's restaurant, there were no kids there, right? Well, we hope not. The dude's party photos are epic, we really don't know what Russian Standard is waiting for to make him their official sponsor.

Sport (Years Played): Basketball (1984-2000)
Accolades: 1993 NBA MVP, 11x All-Star, 5x All-NBA First Team

Forget the two gold medals, '93 MVP award, and the 11 All-Star nods. In '08 we celebrated Barkley for running that red light in Arizona while intoxicated because he was in a rush to meet a "special" lady friend who offered certain services (ya digg?). Hey, it was late at night, can you blame the guy? He had to take care of business, too bad those cops were around to ruin the fun. #hatersgonnahate

Sport (Years Played): Golf (1987-Present)
Accolades: Five PGA Tour wins, Two Major Championships

We could focus on John Daly's two biggest career wins, the '91 PGA Championship and the '95 British Open, but the dude has way more highlights off the green than he has on. Daly has been in and out of more AA programs than he can probably remember and has gone through four divorces since becoming a professional "player" in every sense of the word.

He once said he drank a fifth of Jack every day of the year at age 23, and he holds the esteemed honor of being tossed off a British Airways flight for harassing a flight attendant while being drunk (is that even that bad for this guy?). At the '98 Greater Vancouver Open Daly was visibly seen shaking as he tried to play, hey we've been there too on a Sunday morning, but we're also not on the PGA Tour. In '08 he was found drunk outside of a Winston-Salem, NC Hooters and taken into police custody (let the good times roll). Add his gambling, drugs, and health problems to the mix and Daly was a perfect cocktail of disaster. He says he's been sober since the Hooters incident but who knows. Anyway, here's to a relapse.

Sport (years Played): Baseball (2003-Present)
Accolades: 7x All-Star, 2003 World Series Champion

Miguel Cabrera is a damn good baseball player and an equally heavy drinker. The night before a one-game playoff with the Twins, the Tigers slugger got hammered with a few players from the Chicago White Sox. 

Once he finally made it home, his wife questioned Cabrera about his whereabouts, leading a domestic disturbance that led to scratches and Cabrera's face and left his wife with a busted lip. Cabrera reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .26 that night, more than three times the legal limit. In 2011 Cabrera was arrested for DUI and was reportedly so intoxicated that he took a swig of scotch while being questioned by the arresting officer. And one year after that he's the first Triple Crown winner in 45 years. See kids, uh...well, nevermind.

Sport (Years Played): Football (1965-1977)
Accolades: Super Bowl III Champion, 5x AFL All-Star, 2x AL MVP

"Broadway" Joe lived up to every bit of his nickname during his days slinging the pigskin. Namath was always on stage, drink in one hand and fine dime piece in the other. The charismatic Jets QB had sideburns before Travolta made them cool and he once walked the sideline in a $5,000 tailored mink coat, he was the most interesting man in the world. Forget the Dos Equis guy.

Namath also had a gun for an arm, he was the first QB in any league to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a single season and he led the Jets to a win in Super Bowl III over the Colts, despite being 18-point underdogs. Broadway also opened up a NYC hot-spot, Bachelors III. All of the aforementioned is cool when you're young and the biggest sports star in New York but that swag is a bit creepy when you're in your 60s and trying to pick-up a sideline reporter on live TV. Yeah, you're "strugg-a-ling."

Sport (Years Played): Soccer (1963-1984)
Accolades: 1968 European Cup, 1967-68 FWA Footballer of the Year

Maybe it's the footie or maybe it's the weather, regardless of the reason, the American perception is that our neighbors across the pond basically live in pubs and there are pubs everywhere. In the sad case of George Best this notion extends to athletes as well. Best was touted as one of the best young players of his generation and his record at Manchester United backed that claim, 137 goals in 361 appearances for the Red Devils.

But Best became one of the first celebrity footballers and ultimately fell victim to alcoholism, which would plague him until the end of his days. Maradona, Ronaldo, why do all the best players have some tragic character flaw that prevents them from fulfilling their true potential? Whatever, it didn't stop Best from winning the European Cup and being crowned European Footballer of the year in '68. "The beautiful boy" once said of his career, "I spent 90 percent of my money on women, drinking and fast cars. The rest I wasted." Hey at least he had no regrets right?

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1950, 1953-1967)
Accolades: 6x World Series Champion, 1961 World Series MVP, 10x All-Star

Whitey Ford is one of the greatest Yankees in the storied franchise's history. His alcoholism is rarely ever mentioned or noted, especially when compared with Mickey Mantle, but Whitey was known for an unhealthy style of living that caused him to have the gout and miss games. Heavy drinking didn't stop him from winning six rings so it shouldn't stop us from making it out of bed before 3 p.m. on Sundays! #realisticgoals #motivation

Sport (Years Played): Basketball (1996-2010)
Accolades: 2001 NBA MVP, 11x NBA All-Star, 3x All-NBA First Team

Allen Iverson is everyone's favorite little hero. He had a great career, but it always seemed like it could've been up there with the all-time greats like MJ's. After his last season with Memphis and Philadelphia, Iverson's wife filed for divorce, his daughter was dealing with an undisclosed illness, and his gambling issues reached an all-time low. The final straw was Stephen A. Smith reporting that A.I. has been dealing with an alcohol addiction. Iverson has never addressed these accusations, and he has made very few public appearances in the past two years. We think a trip to China would be a good move for A.I. It worked for Starbury. 

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1951-1968)
Accolades: 20x All-Star, 3x AL MVP, 7x World Series Champion

Mickey Mantle is a seven-time World Series champion and a 20-time MLB all-star but here's another description the "The Mick" is known for: an alcohol abuser of 42 years. We all remember Mantle and Maris chasing the single-season home run record in the HBO documentary 61*, but we also remember Mantle for his off the field antics and his ability to drink like a goddamn fish.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated in '94, Mantle said he began every morning for 10 years with what he called the "breakfast of champions"—a big glass with a shot or more of brandy mixed with Kahlua and cream. FOH, Wheaties! Dude showed up to the ballpark hungover, had numerous marital infidelities and was still one of the greatest baseball players of all time, capturing three AL MVP awards in his 18-year career. What does this say? God-given talent trumps a healthy lifestyle any day of the week, until you get Hodgkin's disease and spend your remaining days in and out of hospitals. Whatever, chicks dig the long ball.

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1914-1935)
Accolades: 7x World Series Champion, 2x All-Star, 1923 AL MVP

"The Sultan of Swat" is credited with leading baseball into the "live-ball era." Babe's power hitting changed the game in the '20s, a game that was known for speed and low-scoring affairs (hey isn't that the national league today?). Babe hit for power and average throughout his 22-year career. Like many of our sports heroes though, Ruth was as big a talent off the field as he was on, there were rumors of multiple affairs and he had a rep as one of the biggest drinkers the game has ever known.

Ruth also loved to smoke, not so much "puff, puff pass," more the cigar type. Nonetheless, Ruth treated his body with absolute reckless abandon and that's the kind of athlete we put in our Hall of Fame. Babe was one of the greats, he most notably held the record for career home runs at one point, but there's no denying his alcoholic abuse, and this was during prohibition no less. Yes he is the Greatest Hard-Drinking Athlete of All Time.