30. Most Consecutive Games With a Fumble – Jon Kitna
Every athlete that plays for a professional sports team has a lot to be proud of. They proved that they can play with the best of the best. But how do they stand out from the rest of the athletes once they make it to the top? The best way to do this is by breaking records. The most legendary athletes have all broken records within their sports that make them stand out as better than the rest. But what happens if an athlete does so poorly during a game or season, they break a record for failure? Unfortunately, this happens quite often. Even some of the best athletes have incredibly embarrassing records to their name that they would rather not talk about. Read on to see what they are!
During the 2002-03 NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna fumbled the football in six-straight games, setting an embarrassing record that has yet to be broken nearly 20 years later. His consecutive fumbles record spanned the last five games of the 2002 season and the 2003 season opener. During this “impressive” streak, Kitna also threw eight interceptions and was sacked 16 times. In 2006, he nearly matched his record by fumbling in five consecutive games.
29. Most Points Allowed in NFL Game – New York Giants
In November 1966, the New York Giants allowed the Washington Redskins to score 72 points in a game that featured 16 touchdowns. While the G-Men were able to put 41 of their own points on the board, their NFC East rival still nearly doubled their score. It’s fairly difficult to walk off the field with heads held high after that performance.
28. Largest Loss in NHL History – New York Rangers
Believe it or not, the New York Rangers were the worst team in the league during the 1943-44 NHL season. They were sitting in last place with a record of 6-39-5. On the contrary, The Detroit Red Wings were one of the league’s best teams that season. So, one can only imagine what happened when the two teams squared off in Jan. 1944. The Red Wings showed absolutely no mercy and demolished the Rangers 15-0, netting half of their goals during the third period. The final score would have been 16-0, but Detroit’s last shot crossed the goal line a second after the siren sounded.
27. Most Home Runs Given Up in One Season – Bert Blyleven
Let’s be honest, watching a baseball soar over the outfield wall for a home run is one of the most exciting things about the sport. That is, unless you’re the opposing pitcher who gave up the longball. In that case, it’s more infuriating than thrilling. Anger and frustration are the feelings MLB starter Bert Blyleven experienced most during the 1986 season as a member of the Minnesota Twins. He allowed a record-setting 50 home runs over the summer. Previously, he had never given up more than 24 homers in a season.
26. Most Balks in One Game – Bob Shaw
Milwaukee Braves pitcher Bob Shaw had one of the most humiliating performances in his professional career in 1963. In a 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs, Shaw set an MLB record with five balks in one game. Since 2000, there have been roughly 100-200 balks per season, an average of one every 12-24 games. Shaw had five in less than five innings pitched. That’s an average of one per inning! He did finish the year with a 2.66 ERA, so all was not lost.
25. Largest Defeat in MLB History – Baltimore Orioles
The largest margin of defeat in an MLB game belongs to the Baltimore Orioles. During a home game at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in 2007, the Texas Rangers trounced the Orioles 30-3, winning the first of a day-night doubleheader by 27 runs. The Rangers were trailing 3-0 after three innings before their bats came to life. They scored 5 runs in the fourth, 9 in the sixth, 10 in the eighth, and another 6 in the ninth. All Rangers batters reached base at least twice and scored at least once.
24. Most Double-Plays Grounded Into in One Game – Joe Torre
Former New York Yankees Manager and Mets player Joe Torre was a phenomenal infielder and catcher during the 1960s and 70s. During a 1975 game against the Houston Astros, however, the current baseball executive made history by becoming the first MLB player to ground into four double-plays in one game. While two other players also hit into four double plays in a single game, at least one of their four double plays involved a fly ball. To add insult to injury, those four double-plays were Torre’s only at-bats of the game.
23. Most Shot Attempts With Zero Makes in One Game – Tim Hardaway
Every NBA player, including superstars, has bad shooting nights. However, none were as horrific as the one Golden State Warriors point guard Tim Hardaway had during the 1991 season. In a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the five-time All-Star missed all 17 shots he took from the field. You read that right. Every single shot he took on offense was unable to find the bottom of the net. Despite his terrible performance, Hardaway helped his team earn the victory in overtime, hitting two free throws and contributing 13 assists.
22. Worst Career Free-Throw Percentage – Ben Wallace
When one thinks about the worst free-throw shooter in the NBA, Shaquille O’Neil immediately comes to mind. It’s utterly inconceivable to imagine a worse professional shooter from the charity stripe. But, let me introduce you to Mr. Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons. Wallace has the lowest free-throw percentage in NBA history with a minimum of 1,000 attempts. With a rate of 41.4%, the Pistons’ juggernaut was guaranteed to miss every other foul shot attempt. This made O’Neil look like Steph Curry from the line.
21. Most Incompletions in One Game – Joe Namath
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback “Broadway” Joe Namath threw more passes than any other gunslinger in the American Football League. With all those passes, there was sure to be a slew of incompletions. And boy, were there! A year following the AFL’s merger with the National Football League in 1966, Namath’s New York Jets were trailing the Denver Broncos 26-0 at halftime. With just two quarters left to play, Namath knew he had to air it out if his team wanted a shot at winning the game. At the conclusion of the fourth quarter, Namath had completed just 24 of 60 passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions. His 36 incompletions are the most of any single quarterback in one game. The Jets would lose the game 33-24.
20. Worst Goal Differential in One NHL Season - Bill Mikkelson
NHL defenceman for the Washington Capitals, Bill Mikkelson, epitomized his team’s inaugural season in an embarrassing fashion. While the Capitals had a record of 8-67-5 and had surrendered 265 more goals than their opponents, Mikkelson may have been the linchpin. When he was on the ice, Washington had a goal differential of -82, the lowest of any professional player. To date, no other NHL player has had a differential worse than -70. Ouch!
19. Most Goals Surrendered in One Game – Doug Soetaert
During the 1981-82 NHL season, Winnipeg Jets goalminder Doug Soetaert surrendered 15 goals in a Nov. 12 loss to the Minnesota North Stars. This demolished the previous record of 11 goals allowed. Through the game’s first 15 minutes, Soetaert was perfect, either catching or deflecting all pucks hurled in his direction. It wasn’t until the last five minutes of the first period that he surrendered two goals. He then allowed eight in the second period and five in the third. After the game, he left the arena without saying a word to anyone, not even his teammates.
18. Most Times Sacked in One Season – David Carr
The goal of any quarterback is to lead his team downfield to either put the ball into the endzone or give his kicker a favorable chance to put the ball through the uprights. The goal is not, however, to get sacked behind the line of scrimmage. Despite his efforts, Houston Texans quarterback David Carr’s inexperienced offensive line allowed the rookie to be sacked a record 76 times during the team’s 2002 inaugural season. He would go on to lead the league in sacks in 2004 and 2005.
17. Most NBA Minutes Without a Point, Assist, or Rebound in One Game – Derek Fisher
Over NBA point guard Derek Fisher’s 20-year career, he helped his team, mainly the L.A. Lakers, reach the playoffs 16 times. The current WNBA head coach could do it all and was known for coming through in the clutch. In a 2009 game against the Houston Rockets, however, Fisher didn’t do a single thing. Literally. During his 34 minutes on the court, he did not record a single point, rebound, or assist. He missed all five of the shots he took. The Lakers did win the NBA Finals that season, so he doesn’t have to cringe too hard when he looks back at that day.
16. Most Strikeouts in One MLB Season – Mark Reynolds
While a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009, first baseman Mark Reynolds couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. He struck out 223 times during the season, breaking his own record of 204 strikeouts from the previous campaign. The season wasn’t an entire bust, however, as Reynolds went on to bat .240 with 44 home runs. On the heels of Reynolds is Cincinnati Reds first baseman Adam Dunn, who struck out 222 times in 2012.
15. Most Earned Runs Given Up in One Game – Howard Ehmke
In 1923, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Howard Ehmke gave up a record 16 earned runs during a game against their rivals, the New York Yankees. After giving up four runs in the first inning, Ehmke settled down, surrendering just two runs over the next four innings. In the sixth inning, however, the wheels came off, and Ehmke gave up 11 earned runs before finally being pulled. The Red Sox would end up losing the game 24-4.
14. Worst Free-Throw Percentage in One Season – Ian Mahinmi
Believe it or not, shooting the basketball 15 feet from the free-throw line uncontested is way more difficult than it looks. Just ask Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi. During the 2014-15 NBA season, Mahinmi made just 30.4% of his foul shots. This marked the lowest single-season free-throw percentage in league history among players who shot a minimum of 100 foul shots.
13. Most Shorthanded Goals Allowed in One Game – Vancouver Canucks
Typically, when a hockey team has a man advantage due to a penalty, the chances of them putting the puck into the back of the net increases exponentially. However, this wasn’t the case for the 1995 Vancouver Canucks. The Canadian team somehow turned an extra player into a disadvantage when it surrendered four short-handed goals to the Winnipeg Jets. While the Jets were penalized eight times over the course of the game, the Canucks only managed to score one goal.
12. Most Turnovers in One NFL Season – Daunte Culpepper
While a member of the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback Daunte Culpepper managed to lead the NFL in fumbles and interceptions. Although he was a very good quarterback, making three Pro Bowls, he was prone to turnovers. In 2002, Culpepper fumbled the ball 23 times and threw 23 interceptions. He was able to recover 6 of those fumbles, giving him 40 turnovers on the season. He is still the only NFL player to have 20 interceptions and 20 fumbles in a season.
11. Most Times Caught Stealing in One Game – Robby Thompson
Over the last decade, there has been an increasing focus on launch angle, exit velocity, and power in Major League Baseball. Gone are the days in which teams bunt and steal to move men into scoring position. If you asked 1986 San Francisco Giants rookie Robby Thompson what he thought of today’s absence of stealing, however, you may find he wouldn’t have minded. During a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thompson was caught stealing four times, setting an MLB record. Despite his stumbling on the base paths, he hit two RBIs to help the Giants defeat the Reds 7-6 in 12 innings.
10. Largest Margin of Defeat in NBA Game – Miami Heat
Nothing is more embarrassing than being on the losing end of a basketball blowout. Now, we’re not talking about a margin of defeat of around 20 or 30 points. No, we mean a detrimental blowout that will haunt players for months, even years. The 1991-92 Miami Heat were not a very good team, finishing the season with a 38-44 record. Although they did make the playoffs, nothing could erase what happened on Dec. 17 in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Heat turned the ball over 23 times and hit just 35.5% of their shots en route to a 148-80 loss. The 68-point margin of defeat is the largest in NBA history.
9. Most Turnovers in One NBA Game – Jason Kidd
Point guard Jason Kidd sits second all-time in career assists with 12,091, leading fellow Hall of Famer Steve Nash by nearly 2,000. Dishing the ball to teammates takes practice and precision, but it also requires a lot of risks. Sometimes those risks don’t pay off, and a player will turn the ball over more often than usual. As a member of the Phoenix Suns in 2000, Kidd committed 14 turnovers in a 90-85 loss to the New York Knicks. This NBA record was very uncharacteristic of Kidd since he only averaged 3.7 turnovers per game that season along with nearly 10 assists per game.
8. Most Rushes With No Yards in One Game – Benny Malone
NFL running back Benny Malone had one of the worst running performances in NFL history in 1974. As a member of the Miami Dolphins, Malone ran the ball 14 times against the New England Patriots. Not only did he not gain a single yard, but he also dipped into the negative, losing three yards over the course of the game. Malone was typically an effective rusher, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Two other running backs, Dexter Bussey and Clem Daniels, also rushed the ball 14 times with no yards. However, they finished their games with 0 and -1 yards respectively.
7. Most Shots With No Goals in One Season – Gilles Marotte
Imagine having a coworker who showed up every day and did absolutely nothing, but still received a paycheck like everyone else. Absurd, right? Well, that’s basically what happened with Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Gilles Marotte. During the 1967-68 NHL season, Marotte skated along the ice, took 154 shots, and didn’t make a single one. While it wasn’t his primary responsibility to score, no player in NHL history took that many shots without putting the puck between the goalposts. Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Well, Marotte missed 100% of the shots he did take. Sheesh, that Gretzky guy must not have known what he was talking about…
6. Most Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns in a Season – Jameis Winston
Just last year, NFL quarterback Jameis Winston etched his name into the record books, but not for something he felt like bragging about. His 2019 season was both exciting and awkward at the same time. Winston led the NFL in passing with over 5,000 yards and 30 interceptions. Heading into the final week of the season, he had already tied the NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns (pick six). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were tied with the Atlanta Falcons 22-22 at the end of regulation. On the first pay of overtime, Winston’s pass was picked off by safety Deion Jones, who returned the ball to the endzone. The Bucs lost the game, and Winston secured one of the most embarrassing records in NFL history.
5. Most Consecutive Losses in the Super Bowl – Buffalo Bills
While reaching the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons is extremely difficult, winning two consecutive Vince Lombardi trophies is an even harder task. Only seven franchises have accomplished this feat. How about losing consecutive Super Bowls? How difficult can that be, right? Well, the Buffalo Bills have the answer. They hold the record for most consecutive Super Bowl losses with four. I’m not sure which “achievement” was more daunting — making it to four straight Super Bowls or losing them all?
4. Most Times Hit by a Pitch – Hughie Jennings
Hopping into the time machine and traveling back to the late 1890s, we find Baltimore Orioles infielder Hughie Jennings. In order to get into scoring position so his teammates could drive him in, Jennings did whatever it took to get on base. When he wasn’t taking walks or smashing the ball for base hits, Jennings was “taking one for the team” by standing his ground and getting beaned with the pitch. Over the course of his career, he was hit 287 times. Imagine all the bruises!
3. Most Technical Fouls in a Season – Rasheed Wallace
Over the course of his 15-year NBA career, small forward Rasheed Wallace was known not only for his aggressive play style but for his mouth, which never seemed to stop running. As a result, he received 41 technical fouls as a member of the 2000-01 Portland Trail Blazers. He finished his career with 317 technical fouls, trailing Charles Barkley and Karl Malone on the all-time list.
2. Most Manager Ejections in MLB History – Bobby Cox
Former Atlanta Braves skipper Bobby Cox currently ranks fourth on the all-time managerial wins list with 2,504. Not only did he know how to squeeze the most out of his players, he knew how to rile them up when the situation called for it. Although he looked cool, calm, and collected on the bench, when he felt the umpiring crew made a terrible call, he let them know about it. As a result, he finished his coaching career with 158 ejections, an MLB record that still holds strong to this day.
1. Most Career Interceptions Thrown – Brett Favre
Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s first pass in the NFL resulted in an interception that was returned for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. It’s only fitting that he holds the NFL record for most career interceptions thrown. As he was slinging the football down the field and fitting it through tight windows, he threw 336 interceptions during his 19-year tenure in the NFL. Despite his miscalculations, Favre is still the only quarterback to throw for over 70,000 yards, over 500 touchdowns, over 6,000 completions, and over 10,000 pass attempts.