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62. Albert Belle

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62.  Albert Belle
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: August 25, 1966 in Shreveport, LA USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: July 15, 1989
  • Final Game: October 01, 2000
  • Silver Slugger - 1993
  • TSN All-Star - 1993
  • Silver Slugger - 1994
  • TSN All-Star - 1994
  • Silver Slugger - 1995
  • TSN All-Star - 1995
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1995
  • Silver Slugger - 1996
  • TSN All-Star - 1996
  • Silver Slugger - 1998
  • TSN All-Star - 1998
  • MVP - 1992
  • MVP - 1993
  • MVP - 1994
  • MVP - 1995
  • MVP - 1996
  • MVP - 1998
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
11706194834527622478176 0.295
 

If you look at the Wikipedia article on Albert Belle you will find that the section on his controversies is longer than his accomplishments.  He fought with sportswriters, with fans, with other players and his temper was legendary.  So was his prowess with a bat.

Albert Belle may have been the most feared sluggers of the 1990s.  He was the first 50/50 man (doubles and home runs) in baseball.  He pounded out extra base hits by the truckload and was able to generate a decent Batting Average.  He was a constant Triple Crown threat as he was to win the MVP Award.  In fact, Belle was jobbed out of the 1995 MVP to Mo Vaughan likely due to the hatred of the baseball media towards him.

Albert Belle retired at the age of 34 due to a degenerative hip, though he quit his baseball career before his numbers declined to an unproductive state.  The bad will that the writers had towards Belle meant that he would have had to accumulate numbers that they could not ignore.  As he did not hit them, they dropped him off the ballot after two years.  If the writers only looked at what he did on the field instead of off of it (as they should), it is hard for them to justify why his vote tally was so low.

Should Albert Belle be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 63.6%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 15.8%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 12.7%
No opinion. - 0.6%
No way! - 7.3%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Sunday, 01 January 2006
  • Position: Designated Hitter, Outfield
  • Played For: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Rings (None)
    The Sporting News Player of the Year (1995)
    All-Star (5) (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 & 1997)
    Silver Slugger (5) (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 & 1998)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (2) (AL) (1995 & 1998)
    Highest OPS (1) (AL) (1998)
    Highest OPS+ (1) (AL) (1998)
    Most Runs Scored (1) (AL) (1995)
    Most Total Bases (3) (AL) 1994, 1995 & 1998)
    Most Doubles (1) (AL) (1995)
    Most Home Runs (1) (AL) (1995)
    Most Runs Batted In (3) (AL) (1993, 1995 & 1996)
    Most Extra Base Hits (3) (AL) (1994, 1995 & 1998)
    Most Sacrifice Flies (2) (AL) (1995 & 1998)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1) (AL) (1994)
    Most Putouts by a Leftfielder (3) (AL) (1993, 1997 & 1998)
    Most Assists by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1993)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder (2) (AL) (1993 & 1998)
    Most Assists by a Rightielder (1) (AL) (1999)
    Most Assists by an Outtielder (1) (AL) (1999)
    Most Double Plays Turned by an Outfielder (1) (AL) (1993)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Leftfielder (2) (AL) (1993 & 1997)
  • Other Points of Note: Top Ten MVP Finishes:
    (AL: 1993, 7th), (AL: 1994, 3rd), (AL: 1995, 2nd), (AL: 1996, 3rd) & (AL: 1998, 8th)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (On Base Percentage)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentages)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (OPS+)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Hits)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Doubles)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Walks)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Extra Base Hits)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Power-Speed #)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Championship Win Probability Added)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 17. Slugging Percentage: .564
    32. Range Factor per Game by a Rightfielder: 2.13
    35. OPS: .933
    52. Putouts by a Leftfielder: 2,107
    58. OPS+: 144
    71. Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder: 13
    72. Home Runs: 381
    93. Assists by a Leftfielder: 64
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame: 2006: 7.7
    2007: 3.5
  • Should be Inducted As A: Cleveland Indian

Should Albert Belle be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 63.6%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 15.8%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 12.7%
No opinion. - 0.6%
No way! - 7.3%

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