Ranking the Left Fielders Joe DiMaggio once said that it “wasn’t possible to describe just how great Stan Musial was.” Musial was “The Man” in St. Louis, leading the Cardinals to pennants in four of his first five seasons, winning three Most Valuable Player awards and seven batting titles. He ranks at the…
Albert Belle Position: LeftfielderBats: Right • Throws: Right6-1, 190lb (185cm, 86kg)Born: August 25, 1966 in Shreveport, LADraft: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 2nd round of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft from Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA).High School: Huntington HS (Shreveport, LA)School: Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA)Debut: July 15, 1989 (15,657th in major league history)vs. TEX 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SBLast Game: October 1, 2000vs. NYY 3…
2001 – In a press release, the Baltimore Orioles announce Albert Belle, “has been found to be totally disabled and unable to perform as a Major League baseball player,” due to a degenerative right hip. The Orioles will place the 34-year-old outfielder on the 60-day disabled list thus beginning the process which conforms to the procedure set forth by MLB in the case of a totally disabling and permanent injury to a player.
Joining Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth, Albert Belle becomes only the fourth player to drive in 100 runs and hit 30 homers for seven consecutive seasons. The White Sox left fielder, who played in every game for the White Sox this season, will continue the streak next year with the Orioles.
1996 – One of Major League Baseball’s most controversial owners, Jerry Reinsdorf, and its most controversial player, Albert Belle, join forces with the Chicago White Sox. Belle signs a record five-year, $55 million deal that makes him the first player to surpass the $10 million per year mark. Reinsdorf, seen as the instigator in the owners’ vote against the collective bargaining agreement, draws the ire of owners in both leagues who feel he sold them out.
May 31, 1996 Clevamd Indians Albert Belle knocks Milwaukee Brewers Fernando Vina down to break up a double play in the top of the eighth inning. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game, players, ballparks and the people that shaped the game!” subscribe_button=”Join us!” show_subscribers_total=”1″] Subscribe to our Podcast The Daily…
Boston slugger Mo Vaughn (.300, 39, 126), taking 12 first-place votes, wins the American League Most Valuable Player award, edging Cleveland’s Albert Belle in the BBWAA voting, 308-301. The Red Sox first baseman becomes the eighth player in franchise history to win the prestigious prize.
1995 – Cleveland OF Albert Belle socks his 50th home run of the season in the Indians’ 3 – 2 win over the Royals. The home run is Belle’s 17th of September, tying Babe Ruth’s record for the month. Beginning September 13, Belle has hit 13 homers in 16 games (he did not play on September 24), tying Frank Howard’s mark set in May, 1968. With today’s homer, Belle becomes the first player ever to have 50 homers and 50 doubles in a season.
In the 1st inning at Comiskey Park, Chicago White Sox manager Gene Lamont accuses Cleveland Indians slugger Albert Belle of using a corked bat, and umpire Dave Phillipsconfiscates the bat and stores it in the umps’ dressing room. In a Mission Impossible caper revealed in 1999, the Indians’ Jason Grimsley crawls 100 feet along a ceiling, drops down into the dressing room, and exchanges Belle’s bat for one of Paul Sorrento’s. After the 3 – 2 Indians win, the switch is discovered to the consternation of the umps and the White Sox. The Indians subsequently turn over one of Belle’s bats and Belle is given a 10-day suspension, later reduced to seven games.
July 15, 1989 Joey Belle mild mannered Cleveland Indians outfielder goes 1-4 in his big league debut. He singles off Nolan Ryan in his first career at-bat. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game, players, ballparks and the people that shaped the game!” subscribe_button=”Join us!” show_subscribers_total=”1″] Subscribe to our…