Who is John Rocker? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: John Loy Rocker

Age: 50 Years, 50 Year Old Males

Family:

father: Jake Rocker

mother: Judy Rocker

Baseball Players Film & Theater Personalities

Height: 6'4" (193 cm), 6'4" Males

U.S. State: Georgia

Recommended For You

1

What team did John Rocker play for in MLB?

John Rocker played for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball.
2

What controversial comments did John Rocker make in a 1999 interview?

In a 1999 interview, John Rocker made controversial and offensive comments about New York City and its diverse population.
3

Did John Rocker face any consequences for his controversial remarks?

Yes, John Rocker faced backlash and disciplinary action from MLB for his controversial remarks, including a suspension and sensitivity training.
4

How did John Rocker's career in MLB end?

John Rocker's career in MLB ended after several tumultuous seasons with different teams and controversies surrounding his behavior and comments.
5

Is John Rocker currently involved in baseball or sports-related activities?

No, John Rocker is not currently involved in professional baseball or sports-related activities.

Recommended Lists:

American People

American Men

Tall Celebrities

Tall Male Celebrities

Male Sportspersons

Childhood & Early Life

John Loy Rocker was born on October 17, 1974, in Statesboro, Georgia, USA, to Judy and Jake Rocker. He went to ‘First Presbyterian Day School’ in Macon, Georgia where he played as a pitcher for his high school team.

While he was preparing to play college baseball for the ‘Georgia Bulldogs’ which represents the ‘University of Georgia,’ he was drafted in the 18th round of the 1993 ‘MLB Draft’ by the ‘Atlanta Braves.’ He then played for the ‘Atlanta Braves’ and was promoted to the major league club in 1998.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

American Sportspersons

American Baseball Players

American Film & Theater Personalities

Baseball Career

In 1999, Atlanta Braves’ closing pitcher Kerry Ligtenberg was placed on the injured list which gave John Rocker the opportunity to take up the role of his team’s closing pitcher. Though he was impressive as a closing pitcher, he was demoted in June 2000 for threatening a reporter.

Rocker’s controversies off the field started affecting his performances. On June 23, 2001, ‘Atlanta Braves’ traded Rocker and an infielder named Troy Cameron with the ‘Cleveland Indians.’ In the same year, he represented the ‘Cleveland Indians’ against the ‘Seattle Mariners’ in the ‘American League Division Series.’

In 2002, ‘Cleveland Indians’ traded him to the ‘Texas Rangers.’ He was subsequently released by ‘Texas Rangers’ after a series of poor performances. The following year, he was signed by the ‘Tampa Bay Devil Rays.’ However, he was released by ‘Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ after a couple of appearances.

Rocker missed the 2004 season with a shoulder injury. In 2005, he was signed by the ‘Long Island Ducks’ of the ‘Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’ (ALPB). He was released by the ‘Long Island Ducks’ on June 27, 2005, after having represented the ‘ALPB’ team in 23 games.

Acting & TV Career

John Rocker made his acting debut in 2002 when he was cast to play a murderous golf-club groundskeeper named George Anderson in the horror-comedy film ‘The Greenskeeper.’ In 2006, he made guest appearances in TV series, such as ‘Pros vs. Joes’ and ‘Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith.’ In 2008, he appeared as himself in a TV series documentary titled ‘Penn & Teller: Bullshit!’

Rocker became popular as a television personality when he took part in ‘CBS’ network’s famous reality television series ‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ in 2014. He appeared alongside his girlfriend Julie McGee before he was voted out on the eighth day of the competition. Though McGee moved ahead in the competition, she quit on the eighteenth day after suffering an emotional breakdown. In 2018, Rocker appeared in a TV movie titled ‘Outside the Perimeter: The John Rocker Incident.’

Personal Life & Controversies

Rocker’s discourteous comments about the people of New York City were published on December 27, 1999 by ‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine. When he was asked if he would play for the ‘New York Mets’ or the ‘New York Yankees,’ he replied by saying that New York City is a hectic and nerve-wracking city. He also criticized the presence of foreigners in the city and complained about the growing population of Asians, Spaniards, and Russians in the city.

During his interview with ‘Sports Illustrated,’ he also criticized fans of ‘New York Mets,’ accusing them of throwing bottles, quarters, and batteries at players. His comments irked many including the commissioner of baseball Bud Selig who suspended Rocker for the first 28 games of the season. The suspension term was later reduced to 14 games.

In June 2006, Rocker was criticized for defending Ozzie Guillén who had used a derogatory term against a sports columnist named Jay Mariotti. Rocker said that America is a free country and that people should be allowed to use lewd terms if they want to. In the same year, he used a derogatory term against his former general manager John Schuerholz during an interview with the sports news and blog website ‘Deadspin.’

Rocker was implicated in a steroid ring in March 2007. In December 2011, he admitted to using steroids during the 2007 season. Moreover, he questioned the integrity of other players as well. Rocker was involved in many controversies throughout his sports career, so much so that his career was overshadowed by his off-field controversies.

Rocker made headlines again in 2016 when he sued a company called ‘Partnership Liquidity Investors.’ He is currently involved in various real estate ventures and also works as a columnist for a website named ‘WorldNetDaily’ (WND).

Facts About John Rocker

John Rocker is an accomplished bow hunter and has a passion for outdoor activities.

He once appeared on the reality TV show "Survivor" where he showcased his survival skills and competitive spirit.

Rocker is known for his charitable work, particularly with organizations that support military veterans and first responders.

He is an avid reader and has a diverse taste in literature, ranging from classic novels to contemporary non-fiction.

In his spare time, Rocker enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

John Rocker Biography

You wanted to know

What team did John Rocker play for in MLB?

What controversial comments did John Rocker make in a 1999 interview?

Did John Rocker face any consequences for his controversial remarks?

How did John Rocker's career in MLB end?

Is John Rocker currently involved in baseball or sports-related activities?