Baseball breeds a certain level of monotony. There are 28 guys on a roster, many of whom quietly plod away at their craft for 162 games a year. That's fine, but it's not fun.
Every once in a while, however, MLB spits out a gem of a player — an individual so captivating you can't look away. Some guys are polished in the spotlight, but unhinged behind the scenes. Others have no filter, happy to spit venom on the biggest stages, unafraid of consequences.
This page houses my MLB Villains series, where we hone in on baseball's modern madmen, why they're so crazy, and how their unorthodox dedication to their craft puts them among the sport's most memorable figures. Each player is a special brand of crazy, and we love them all for every ounce of fussiness, flavor, and foible.
| Edition | MLB Villain | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OF Bryce Harper | Released Dec. 6 |
| 2 | OF Ichiro Suzuki | Released Dec. 13 |
| 3 | SP Madison Bumgarner | Released Jan. 3 |
| 4 | RP AL Hrabosky | Released Jan. 17 |
| 4 | OF Nyjer Morgan | Released Mar. 1 |
MLB's Greatest Villains: The Chosen One
“The Chosen One.” That’s the label Sports Illustrated slapped on Bryce Harper when he was just 16. A sculpted, cannon-armed catcher with enough light-tower power in his left-handed stroke, Harper was destined to be baseball’s next shining star. Not long after his debut, he became a villain.
Read Harper’s full story here.
MLB's Greatest Villains: The Undercover Sicko
For as special as Ichiro was on the diamond, he was equally a one-of-a-kind personality off the field – just ask his teammates. There is – and will only ever be – one Ichiro Suzuki.
Read Ichiro's full story here.
MLB Greatest Villains: The Real-Life Cowboy
Bumgarner has since faded into the sunset, but this cowboy had quite the rodeo – literally – before all was said and done. Relive some of his greatest moments here.
MLB's Greatest Villains: The Mad Hungarian
Nicknamed "The Mad Hungarian" for his angry antics on the mound, Al Hrabosky etched himself in baseball lore as one of the most intimidating characters to ever toe a major-league slab. Here are his craziest moments.
MLB's Greatest Villains: The Man Child
Nobody had quite a temper like Nyjer Morgan. His antics made him a fan favorite in Washington and an arch-enemy to opposing clubs across the league. Relive his angriest moments here.
