The most foolish trades in sports history

Hoaxes, hijinks, and a good laugh rule April Fools' Day. 

But on any given day in the sports world, a blockbuster trade can be made that is so terrible and so lopsided that it might seem at first like you are being pranked. 

“Is ... is that a joke?”

Ever had that reaction before, as you come across breaking news of a trade? 

You’re definitely not alone. It doesn’t matter if it’s April, October, or January.

To celebrate the spirit of the day, we bring you five of the most foolish trades in sports history.

Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees

The Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in January of 1920, but it was no laughing matter for Boston baseball fans. 

Ruth spent six seasons with the Red Sox and posted league-leading totals for runs (103), home runs (29), and RBIs (113) in his final year with the franchise, before owner Harry Frazee shipped the outfielder/pitcher to the Yankees. 

The payments Frazee received for Ruth reportedly went toward financing his Broadway productions. 

If only Twitter existed a hundred years ago. 

He became the game’s first true slugger and totaled 714 home runs in his 22-year career. The Yankees won the World Series four times during Ruth’s tenure.  

Heartbreak consumed the Red Sox for decades. The "Curse of the Bambino" lived on for 84 years, until the Red Sox broke through for a World Series win in 2004. 

We can laugh about it now. 

Charlotte Hornets trade Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant started his NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets, but he never played a game with the franchise.

The Hornets selected Bryant 13th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, but didn’t see any fit for him on their team and traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers, in exchange for Vlade Divac. 

Bryant played 20 years with the Lakers and had one of the greatest careers in NBA history. He won five championships in L.A., and was twice an NBA Finals MVP.

Ditka sells the farm for Ricky Williams

The plot to the 2014 film "Draft Day" might seem far-fetched at first. A desperate NFL general manager trades away three consecutive first-round picks for the No. 1 overall selection. 

But not even Hollywood screenwriters could’ve scripted what Mike Ditka, then coach of the New Orleans Saints, sent to the Redskins for the chance to draft running back Ricky Williams in 1999. 

Ditka wanted to draft Williams so badly that he traded away eight — eight! — picks, including all of their picks in 1999 and a first-round selection in 2000, to make that selection at fifth overall. 

That goes beyond selling the farm. 

Williams spent three seasons in New Orleans, before he moved on to the Miami Dolphins in 2002. He had several standout seasons, more than 10,000 rushing yards and 66 rushing touchdowns, but the price Ditka paid to select him fifth overall is more shocking than it is foolish.  

Chargers trade to move up, draft Ryan Leaf

The San Diego Chargers paid a hefty price for one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history. 

In 1998 the Chargers traded two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and two players all to move from third to second in the NFL Draft order. The Chargers used the second pick to select quarterback Ryan Leaf. 

It didn’t work out. 

Leaf played three seasons in the NFL. As a rookie, he threw two touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Yikes! 

Calgary Flames trade Brett Hull

The Wayne Gretzky trade to the Los Angeles Kings is too easy.

We’ll go a different direction, to when the Calgary Flames traded Brett Hull to the St. Louis Blues in 1988. 

Hull had 26 goals and 50 points in 52 games during his first full season in Calgary. The Flames then decided to deal Hull to the Blues, in what has been dubbed the worst trade in Flames history. 

Hull grew into one of the best scorers in NHL history. 

He scored 72 goals during the 1989-90 season with the Blues, and followed that up with 86 goals the next season. Hull scored 741 goals in his career, which ranks him fourth all-time. 

It's fair to say the Blues won that deal.