The frontrunner of the MLB’s Most Valuable Player race was attacked and choked by his own teammate following a baseline argument last Sunday.  The altercation began after Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper scolded pitcher Jonathan Papelbon for not running hard through first base during their game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Papelbon took offense to the comments and lunged at Harper, appearing to grab for his neck.  Despite the attack, manager Matt Williams, let Papelbon remain in the game to pitch.

With Papelbon already set to serve a three-game suspension for pitching at the head of Orioles third Baseman, Manny Machado, he will now miss the remaining four games of the season.

Although the majority of baseball fights consist of bench-clearing brawls, not dugout scuffles, incidents like these have been around as long as baseball has.  As shocking as this scuffle was, Papelbon isn’t the first baseball player that has tried to choke a teammate. 

According to a New York Times article by Victor Mather, there is a large history of altercations between teammates.

 In 2002, home run king Barry Bonds got into an argument with teammate Jeff Kent.  Kent appeared to take issue with a decision made by one of his teammates, David Bell.  Bonds, who had no lost love towards Kent, defended Bell.  The argument turned into harsh words which turned into a shoving match.  The fight, now known as “the slug out in the dugout,” ended up like the Harper-Papelbon fight, with Bonds appearing to go for the neck of Kent.

Another incident took place in 1989 when Darryl Strawberry from the Met’s, heard that teammate Keith Hernandez had told media members not to vote for Strawberry for MVP. At the Mets’ photo day, an argument culminated in Strawberry taking a swing at Hernandez, clipping his jaw.

Fighting in baseball isn’t a new trend.  The high-pressure situations that the athletes are in can cause tempers to flare and teammates to lash out.  What defines a team is what happens after the fight.  When players are unable to look past their personal feuds, it affects the whole team. 

Fortunately, teammates settle their differences.  It’s a part of being a professional.  Bonds and Kent managed their rocky relationship and were one of the best one-two punches in baseball for years. 

“I wouldn’t say that they totally hates or despised each other,” said teammate, Rich Aurilia, according to a New York Times article by Jack Curry. “They had different interests. Two guys can play together if they’re not the best of buddies.”

When the players alone can’t sort it out, the organizations sometimes step in.  After the Strawberry and Hernandez’s fight, they were both assigned to the Mets’ team psychiatrist and ended up shaking hands.  Whether or not this was for publicity or a real heart to heart between players, it was a step in the right direction nonetheless.

Regarding the Harper-Papelbon fight, Harper seems to have forgiven Papelbon regarding their recent fight. Fans and media members are calling for Papelbon’s head, but it can easily be avoided if both players can reach an agreement.