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Albert Jojuan Belle (born August 25, 1966 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball.

One of the leading sluggers of his time, he was the first player to hit 50 doubles and 50 home runs in a season; remarkably, this occurred in 1995, a season shortened from 162 to 144 games by a work stoppage. Albert Belle was a model of consistency, averaging .298 with 37 home runs and 120 RBI over the ten years of his career from 1991-2000. Belle had seasons of 48, 49, and 50 home runs, and is one of only six players in major league history to have nine consecutive 100-RBI seasons. When Cal Ripken ended his record consecutive game streak, it was Belle who became the major leagues' active leader in the category. However, his dour personality combined with occasional angry incidents created a public persona for surliness that often outshadowed his on-field hitting performance.

Belle became just the fourth player to have eight straight seasons of 30 home runs and 100 RBI, joining Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Lou Gehrig. He was an indifferent fielder, but an effective base stealer, with a career high of 23 steals in 1993, and a surprising 17 in 1999, the same year when his hip began to fail him. Belle led the league three times in RBI, three times in total bases, three times in extra-base hits, and twice in slugging. He was a five-time All-Star between 1993 and 1997. Remarkably, his career highs in HRs, RBI, batting average, runs scored, and walks occurred in five separate seasons. In 1994, he lost the batting title to the New York Yankees' similarly volcanic outfielder Paul O'Neill, .359 to .357. His postseason record was limited to two heavy-hitting appearances, in which only his batting average suffered: he hit .230/.405/.557 with six home runs and 14 RBIs in 61 at-bats.

Sports reporters resented Belle's refusal to grant interviews before a game. A profane outburst directed at a group of reporters in his team's dugout, including NBC Sports personality Hannah Storm, was widely reported during the 1995 World Series. The incident cemented Belle's image in the media, which was further fueled by his unrepentant attitude: ""The Indians wanted me to issue a statement of regret when the fine was announced, but I told them to take it out. I apologize for nothing."

Eventually, Belle routinely refused to speak with the media. “I don’t get excited talking about myself," he explained. "Guys such as Sandy Koufax, Joe DiMaggio and Steve Carlton did not interview, and it was no big deal. They were quiet. I am also quiet. I just want to concentrate on baseball. Why does everyone want to hear me talk, anyway?” Belle rarely even conducted interviews regarding his various charitable donations and scholarships.

His reputation likely cost him the 1995 MVP Award; Belle finished second in the media voting to the Boston Red Sox' Mo Vaughn, despite leading the American League that season in runs scored, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and total bases, and despite Belle's outpacing Vaughn in every important offensive category except RBI (both men had 126). This was in the middle of a three-year streak in which Albert Belle finished 3rd, 2nd, and 3rd for the American League MVP. Belle had two other top ten MVP votes, in 1993 (7th) and 1998 (8th).

In 2001, following Belle's retirement, the New York Daily News' venerable columnist Bill Madden wrote: "Sorry, there'll be no words of sympathy here for Albert Belle. He was a surly jerk before he got hurt and now he's a hurt surly jerk....He was no credit to the game. Belle's boorish behavior should be remembered by every member of the Baseball Writers' Association when it comes time to consider him for the Hall of Fame." The New York Times' sportswriter Robert Lipsyte observed, ""Madden is basically saying, 'He was not nice to me, so let's fuck him.' Sportswriters anoint heroes in basically the same way you have crushes in junior high school....you've got someone like Albert Belle, who is somehow basically ungrateful for this enormous opportunity to play this game. If he's going to appear to us as a surly asshole, then we'll cover him that way. And then, of course, he's not gonna talk to us anymore—it's self-fulfilling."

Belle was involved in other controversial incidents. He was suspended in 1994 for using a corked bat. He was fined in 1996 for knocking down Brewers infielder Fernando Vina, who had blocked his way on the basepaths (though many observers felt the collision was a legitimate play). He also had unpleasant interactions with the public. In 1990, he threw a baseball into the stands, where it struck a fan who'd been taunting him about his alcohol rehab. He also chased down rowdy trick-or-treaters who were celebrating Halloween by throwing eggs at his home, bumping one with his car. In 1986, he'd gone after a heckler in the stands who was shouting racist insults at him, and was suspended while his team played in the College World Series.

Belle played collegiately at LSU and upon finishing was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. While in the minor league system he was known as "Joey", and was thought of as a top prospect, but a high-risk one due to his temper and excess drinking. Belle underwent counseling, and became known as "Albert".

In the winter of 1996, he signed with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent (and was temporarily the highest paid player in baseball). In 1999, he again became the highest paid player, signing a five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Unfortunately for him and his new team, Belle ended his career just two seasons later, retiring at age 34 as a result of degenerative osteoarthritis in his hip. In an oddity, he was kept on Baltimore's active 40-man roster for the next three years, as a condition of the insurance policy which largely reimbursed the Orioles for Belle's contract.

Albert Belle homered in the final at-bat of his tempestuous career.

Quotes about Albert Belle from teammates

• "Does anger bring out the best in Albert? In a way, we think it does."

—former Indians teammate Kenny Lofton

• "Just look at his numbers, that's all you have to do. He goes out and plays hard. He's really different from how he's portrayed; you guys don't give him a chance. Everything is blown out of proportion."

—outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.

• "He came here and played every day. He was a warrior for us and I wish him the best, Albert is not as bad a guy as people think. We knew him differently. I wish him luck."

—former White Sox teammate Frank Thomas

• "He comes to play every day, and that's all that matters to me. He gets a bum rap in the press. He's done some things that weren't smart, but I think he's a great guy. You certainly can't argue with how he goes about his business on the field."

—former White Sox teammate Tony Phillips

• "I look at him as a baseball player. I look at how he comes to bat and how he approaches his job. He's someone you really appreciate when he's on your team. He's a fifty homer guy, a one-hundred forty RBI guy. He wants to play everyday. Who wouldn't want that? I have a lot of respect for him. Playing against him and watching how he goes about his job. I'm happy I'm his teammate."

—former Orioles teammate Cal Ripken

• "He has something that's much deeper than a lot of players. In every arena, there's always a guy who looks different than anybody else. When he puts his game face on, don't mess with him. That's Albert Belle."

—former Orioles teammate Charles Johnson

• "He (Albert Belle) gets criticized a lot for not talking to the media, but that's indicative of his indifference to how he's perceived and whether he's regarded as a superstar or popular. All he wants to do is play baseball. As a teammate, he's the best you can have."

—former Orioles teammate Brady Anderson

External link

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis

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