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Joey Belle Would Like You to Call Him Al
By Jamie Mottram | March 10, 2008
You probably remember Albert Belle as a terrible signing in Baltimore, a terrific slugger in Cleveland or an all-around menace to society wherever he roamed, but before all that he was just a kid. Via Wikipedia:
“While in the minor league system he was known as “Joey” (his childhood nickname) and was thought of as a top prospect, but high-risk due to his temper and excessive drinking. Belle underwent counseling and became known as “Albert.”
And I’ve got the ‘90 Fleer Joey Belle to prove it. This card tormented me during spring training of ‘91 when someone named Albert Belle hit an ungodly number of home runs, and I, sans internet, scrambled to find out if Joey was Albert and Albert was Joey. Turns out they were one in the same, and Albert Jojuan Belle would terrorize American League pitchers — and sometimes teenagers — for the next 10 seasons.
Topics: Cardboard Icons, MLB |
3 Responses to “Joey Belle Would Like You to Call Him Al”
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March 10th, 2008 at 10:02 am
That card pissed the hell out of me too.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Counseling is to Albert Belle as control is to Greivis Vazquez.
Outside of moped navigation, of course.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
If I were Albert Belle, I’d revert my name back to Joey for safety - safety from millions of pissed-off O’s fans looking him up in the white pages.