Word: hirschbeck
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Dates: during 1996-1996
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...Roberto Alomar He didn't say it, he sprayed it. The Baltimore Oriole second baseman spit on umpire John Hirschbeck after an argument in Toronto toward the end of the regular season, then compounded his sin by saying Hirschbeck hasn't been the same since his son died of a neurological disease. After Alomar was given an absurdly lenient suspension (five games next season rather than in the postseason), he became the chew toy in a dogfight among the players, umpires and baseball executives. The real damage, though, was done to Alomar's name. He may never shake his spitting...
...John Hirschbeck has been an umpire in the American League for more than a decade. Well-respected by his peers and players alike, he has dealt with his share of hardship. His 11-year-old son died several years ago of a congenital neurological disorder, and his only living son is similarly afflicted...
...Hirschbeck called strike three on an outside pitch, and an irate Alomar argued the call, causing him to be kicked out of the Baltimore Orioles-Toronto Blue Jays game on September 27. This so enraged Alomar that he bolted from the dugout after ejection and continued to badger Hirshbeck. The war of words persisted until Alomar actually spit in Hirschbeck's face. Davey Johnson, the Orioles' manager, then removed Alomar from the field, and prevented further confrontation...
...playoffs just five minutes before the first American League game was set to begin. Umpires had threatened the walkout when the American League announced that Baltimore Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar would not have to serve a five-game suspension until next season for spitting on umpire John Hirschbeck in a game last Friday. Alomar, a wonderful ballplayer but a lousy diplomat, then infuriated Hirschbeck with these comments after the game: "I used to respect him a lot. He had a problem with his family when his son died -->