Name: Albert Belle
Rank: 151
Position: LF
Years With White Sox: 1997-1998
Mere weeks after owner Jerry Reinsdorf argued against a labor deal that did not include salary restraints, the White Sox shocked the baseball world on November 19, 1996 by signing free agent outfielder Albert Belle to a 5 year, $55 million deal, making him the highest paid player in baseball. Belle, joining returning stars Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura, was expected to lead the White Sox back to the post-season.
While Belle certainly lived up to his end of the bargain, things did not go as planned for the White Sox. Ventura broke his ankle during spring training and missed nearly the first 4 months of the season. Belle, meanwhile, tried to keep the team afloat, going on a career-high 27 game hitting streak in May. When Ventura returned in late July, the White Sox had their intended sluggers together for the first time all season and looked like they were ready to make a run. A week later, at the trading deadline, they were only 3.5 games behind the Indians when Reinsdorf decided to pull the plug and signed off on what has become known as the White Flag trade.
The team finished the season 1 game under .500 and in 2nd place, 6 games behind the Indians. Belle finished the year with .274 average, 30 home runs, and 116 RBI.
The White Sox struggled again in 1998, but, once again, Albert Belle was not part of the problem. He became the franchise’s single season leader in home runs (49) and RBIs (152), the later of which surpassed Zeke Bonura’s record from 1936. On the last day of the season, when Cal Ripken sat out to end his record consecutive games streak, Belle became the active leader.
Following the season, Belle invoked a unique clause in his contract which entitled him to remain as one of the 3 highest paid players in baseball. Looking at a rebuilding effort, the White Sox decided against renegotiating, which allowed Belle to become a free agent, ending his tenure on the south side.
Belle’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: