battery problem

I have a 1996 vw golf with manual trans, ac, 4 cyl. I have recently replaced the starter and battery cables (which were completely corroded) and battery which was overheating--I thought the battery problem was due to the corrosion however the new battery is now doing the same thing. Is this an alternator issue? i was just looking for some advice before i spend the cash on the possible the wrong thing--I have never seen a battery do that before.

are you sure the battery is connected properly?

i hooked it up black to black red to red, so unless the new cables were put in wrong (is that possible?) and why did the first one overcharge in the first place? no one touched it--i hate this car--