I finally got around to watching last Wednesday's Clubhouse, and I was kind of surprised by the plot. The corked bat/bat switching incident actually happened to the Cleveland Indians. I was actually watching the game live when it happened!

It was in 1994 in a game against the Chicago White Sox. The manager of the White Sox challenged Albert Belle's bat because it had been rumored that his bat was corked. The umpire took it back to the umpire's room so it could be examined later. (sound familiar yet?)

The Indians team knew Albert's bat was illegal, so someone (recently revealed to be relief pitcher Jason Grimsley) removed a cealing tile in the manager's office, and climbed through the air vents to the umpire's room with a legal (Paul Sorrento) bat and he switched the bats. This made the national news and the umpires threatened to bring in the FBI. And, unlike Conrad Dean, Albert Belle did, indeed, cork his bat. (And we all have to ask why? This guy was an amazing hitter and didn't really need the advangage!)

I actually enjoyed the show, and it really reminded me why I was glad Albert Belle is no longer an Indian wink (actually, no longer in baseball!)

- Laura

Laura "The Yellow Dart" U. (Alicia U. on the archive)

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." -- Christopher Reeve