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Reaction: Albert Belle

Fans remember ferocious hitter, volatile personality

Believe it or not, Albert Belle does have loyal fans.

We asked you how you would remember the surly slugger, and we figured most of you would take the opportunity to bash one of Major League Baseball's true bad guys.

We were wrong.

Keep reading for a sample of the mixed responses we received.

I don't care what a player does, or did, off the field, unless it's about drugs, and Albert had no troubles with that. So in my case, it's not gonna be easy to see Belle in the stands and not on the field. He represents one of the greatest hitter I've seen in my life.
Simon Sambrano, Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Albert Belle was subjected the most extreme verbal abuse I have ever witnessed anywhere. One may argue that he brought it on himself, but how many of us might have reacted the same way, if not worse? Belle was a target for every low self-esteem, alcohol-abusing slob in the stands -- and God knows there are plenty of them. The fact that he maintained any level of concentration while enduring the constant abuse is a testament to his professionalism, integrity and maturity. Yes, you read that right. I don't condone his actions when he lost his cool, but if I were in his shoes, I would've gone into the stands night after night. I especially will remember his second season with the White Sox as one of the finest offensive seasons anyone ever had -- 49 dingers, 152 RBI and a .324 batting average, with no one but journeymen hitting behind him. And Jerry Reinsdorf couldn't see giving him a 10 percent raise!? God bless, you Albert. Hope we haven't seen the last of you.
Mark Vieaux, Nevada City, Calif.

I would not, and could not, shed a tear for a man that makes Ty Cobb look like Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life. We are talking about an "infected sore" of person who has absolutely no class and was always a problem on the teams he played for. The list of Albert's escapades is long and sinister. Yes, the man was a great hitter. But that's it! His teammates hated him, the press hated him, his neighbors hated him, the girlfriend in Chicago he beat up hated him, fans hate him, and oh yes, the kids he tried to run down one Halloween night hated him! Good bye Albert and don't let the door hit your good hip on the way out!
Frank Comproni, Boston

Baseball writers who dislike this guy so much should stop and think of this: Without the players, you guys would have to take real jobs. So shed a tear for a man who gave his body to his sport, and ultimately, to your wallet.
Keith Robideau, Baltimore, Md.

Joey has never endeared himself to the public, ever. Why should we feel anything for him other than to tell him, "The butts he kicked on the way up might be the butts he has to kiss on the way down." Pucker up Albert, you jerk.
Barry Fader, Windsor, Ont.

I will mourn the loss of Albert Belle. No I was not a fan, in fact I often hated him, but to see a promising career wiped out like this makes me sad. Belle was also one of the few ornery guys left in the game. It's often refreshing to have an athlete you can root against for the sheer fact that they are a jerk.
Alexander Sterzin, Lexington, Mass.

I live in Cleveland and we stuck up for Albert the whole time he was here -- the antics he pulled during the '95 World Series, etc., and then he stabs us in the back by going to the White Sox for nothing other than the money. I remember seeing the press photo of him with that big smile on his face and his new White Sox jersey and hat on. It made me sick. The next time he came to Jacobs Field as a member of the White Sox we threw Monopoly money at him and booed. I genuinely believe this is a case of karma. He treated nearly everyone with disdain and disrespect, and now it's coming back to him. I don't feel the slightest bit bad for him and I don't think many of us from Cleveland do.
John McDonald, Cleveland

There is no disputing that Albert Belle is one of the most talented hitters of his era, even taking into consideration the inflated offensive numbers of the 1990s. However, the same era saw an explosion in self-centered, egotistical prima donnas. Sadly, Belle was also a standout in this area to the point where it overshadowed his accomplishments on the field. Many players intensely dislike the press and fans, but most are able to at least maintain an air of cordiality and civility. Belle, however, was a loose cannon who saw fit to erupt whenever and wherever he felt like it -- even when he wasn't provoked. There was no excuse for throwing that ball at that heckler. There was no excuse for chasing down those Halloween pranksters. There was no excuse for his profane verbal assault on Hannah Storm. Albert Belle, quite simply, was, is, and always will be, a nasty person whose hostile and angry personality will overshadow most or all of his accomplishments!
Michael Beusch, San Mateo, Calif

I won't shed a tear for him, but I do feel bad that he has to leave the league on a bad note instead of leaving on his on choice. He was one of the most enjoying baseball players to watch. I wish him luck down the road and I don't think he should leave baseball behind. He might think of coaching or doing something to keep his baseball pride on a good side.
Adam Gaston, Austin, Texas

This guy was most notorious for his antics as a poor excuse of a human being. Everyone in the media hated dealing with this child. I've followed his career since he was a Cleveland Indian and his production was always there, especially in the second half of the season. When he signed with Baltimore, I thought it was a marriage made from hell. What better than combining baseball's current biggest jerk owner with baseball's current biggest successful jerk player? He made a quote and a commitment to make more of an effort to relate with his new fans in Baltimore (*CROCK*) and yada, yada, yada ... I don't think anyone truly wants to see a person being taken away from the game due to injuries, but I can't think of anyone more deserving of such a fate than Albert (Joey) Belle.
Peter Chun, Silver Spring, Md.

Not one tear for that mean-spirited, bully, thug.
Joe Blow, Nairobi, Kenya

Are you kidding me? Shed a tear for Albert Belle? I'm sorry, but I reserve that kind of stuff for gentleman like Bo Jackson, not Belle.
Mike Cullerton, Fort Collins, Colo.

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