Bigger Jerks Than Joey Belle in the Hall of Fame

[rats60]

The correct answer is no one. Who else tried to hurt fans with a baseball? Destroy teammates property with a bat? Try to run over kids on Halloween? Expose himself to a teenage girl? Mays, Jackson etc. could be rude, but none are in Belle's league.

[timn1]

Being a grumpy jerk to some people at a show because of whatever's going on in his life should hardly be the sole criterion for whether an athlete is a true bastard... we've all had our down moments. With most of these guys you hear anecdotes from the other side about how they were nice at least some of the time.

We're talking the REAL bad actors here.... the Hal Chases and OJs of the HOF.
(or as Lyle said about Munson - not moody (which implies you're nice some of the time), just plain mean. Who are they?

Originally Posted by rats60

The correct answer is no one. Who else tried to hurt fans with a baseball? Destroy teammates property with a bat? Try to run over kids on Halloween? Expose himself to a teenage girl? Mays, Jackson etc. could be rude, but none are in Belle's league.

[Peter_Spaeth]

If Bonds ever gets in, by many accounts he'll be right up there. Clemens too.

[maniac_73]

Not really fair to judge ones character unless you knew them personally. Look what happened with Cobb

[Marckus99]

Frank Robinson is a complete jerk.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Marckus99

Frank Robinson is a complete jerk.

Nice

...and it's 'was'


.

[Throttlesteer]

Ray Lewis if we're counting the NFL

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by Marckus99

Frank Robinson is a complete jerk.

Around 1989, when Robinson was managing the Orioles, I approached him before a game outside of Fenway Park, to sign a 1967 Topps card of him with Hank Bauer and Brooks Robinson. Bauer and Robinson already had signed it. Worth noting, I was 15 at the time, was the only person around seeking an autograph, and Bauer and Brooks both signed it for free for me (Bauer TTM, Brooks in person for me at Fenway). Knowing Frank's nature, I tried my hardest to be very polite. It went something like this:

Me: Mr. Robinson, would you please sign this card for me?
Frank: (takes a second to stop and look at the card) Oh, you already got the other two to sign that, and just need me now?
Me: Yes, sir, if you don't mind.
Frank: I'll sign it for you tomorrow.
Me: But it's your last day in Boston.
Frank: I know! (Laughs and walks away.)

Now that is a total jerk move for no reason.

I wonder what would've happened if I followed the Orioles to the next city and approached him again the next day....

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Around 1989, when Robinson was managing the Orioles, I approached him before a game outside of Fenway Park, to sign a 1967 Topps card of him with Hank Bauer and Brooks Robinson. Bauer and Robinson already had signed it. Worth noting, I was 15 at the time, was the only person around seeking an autograph, and Bauer and Brooks both signed it for free for me (Bauer TTM, Brooks in person for me at Fenway). Knowing Frank's nature, I tried my hardest to be very polite. It went something like this:

Me: Mr. Robinson, would you please sign this card for me?
Frank: (takes a second to stop and look at the card) Oh, you already got the other two to sign that, and just need me now?
Me: Yes, sir, if you don't mind.
Frank: I'll sign it for you tomorrow.
Me: But it's your last day in Boston.
Frank: I know! (Laughs and walks away.)

Now that is a total jerk move for no reason.

I wonder what would've happened if I followed the Orioles to the next city and approached him again the next day....

I take it you never got the card signed?

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Around 1989, when Robinson was managing the Orioles, I approached him before a game outside of Fenway Park, to sign a 1967 Topps card of him with Hank Bauer and Brooks Robinson. Bauer and Robinson already had signed it. Worth noting, I was 15 at the time, was the only person around seeking an autograph, and Bauer and Brooks both signed it for free for me (Bauer TTM, Brooks in person for me at Fenway). Knowing Frank's nature, I tried my hardest to be very polite. It went something like this:

Me: Mr. Robinson, would you please sign this card for me?
Frank: (takes a second to stop and look at the card) Oh, you already got the other two to sign that, and just need me now?
Me: Yes, sir, if you don't mind.
Frank: I'll sign it for you tomorrow.
Me: But it's your last day in Boston.
Frank: I know! (Laughs and walks away.)

Now that is a total jerk move for no reason.

I wonder what would've happened if I followed the Orioles to the next city and approached him again the next day....

My Frank Robinson story is the opposite :

In late 1981 or 1982, I was standing (hunched over my treasure, really) in the rain outside the players parking lot at Candlestick after a rained out Giants game when he drove past me, then stopped and backed up.

He rolled down his window and asked "What are you doing standing there?"

"I was hoping I could get you to sign this baseball" I told him, as I reached it into his car to avoid the wet, and pointed out that it already had Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and a few other HR hitters of note.

"This is a nice ball", he said "what if I just drive away with it?" he chuckled.

"Please don't" I said, as the rain came down a bit harder.

He smiled as he found a good spot on the ball, signed a beautiful signature, carefully handed it back to me avoiding the rain, and said "thank you, now get out of the rain".

"Thank you!", I said and headed to my car to make the 93 mile drive home.

****

I now work for famous people for a living, and I see both sides of it on a daily basis, both of my current bosses have reputations that may have earned them mention in this thread had they been baseball players.

Both are unquestionably HOF caliber in their chosen professions.

Both are among the nicest people I know, although after a combined 17 years working for them, I might have a few "horror" stories, also.

My point is, for every horror story, there is often a story with the opposite point, but frequently it's the horror stories that circulate the most.

Doug