"It's not like we hate each other, it's just a little disagreement”- When Prince Fielder apologized for pushing teammate Manny Parra in the dugout
Prince Fielder was one of the most feared sluggers of his generation, whose career derailed due to injuries. Fielder also proved to be someone who should not be messed with off the field, something that his own teammate once found out.
On August 4, 2008, Fielder and his Milwaukee Brewers teammate Manny Parra got into a heated exchange in the dugout as frustrations boiled over following a 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The two exchanged words before Fielder pushed the pitcher twice in the chest before being held back by other players.
Following the much-publicized incident, Fielder spoke to the media about the altercation.
"It's not like we hate each other, I don't. It's just a little disagreement. I apologize for the way it went down, but I don't apologize for the passion and intensity," Fielder said of the incident with Parra.
Brewers' manager at the time, Ned Yost, was not concerned about the dugout dust-up.
"I want guys that compete. I want guys that play with fire and passion. And sometimes when you do, things like that happen," Yost said of the altercation.
While that type of outburst in a team's dugout could hurt the club, this was not the case as the Milwaukee Brewers went on to secure a postseason berth. The Brewers ultimately fell to the eventual World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
Injuries cut Prince's potential Hall of Fame career short in his prime
While Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewers had some successful seasons, they were never able to win it all. That being said, the hard-hitting first baseman was a force at the plate but his career came to an abrupt end at only 32 years old.
In 2016, Prince Fielder suffered C4-C5 herniations in his neck. Only a few weeks later, in an emotional press conference, Prince announced that the injuries would no longer allow him to play in the MLB. After 12 strong seasons in the majors, Fielder had to opt for retirement.