1994 Bat Burglary
Encyclopedia
The 1994 Cleveland Indians corked bat incident took place on July 15, 1994 at Comiskey Park
in Chicago
during a major league baseball
game. In the first inning
of the game between the Cleveland Indians
and the Chicago White Sox
, White Sox manager Gene Lamont
was tipped off that Indians batter Albert Belle
was using a corked baseball bat
. Under the rules
of Major League Baseball
, a manager
may challenge one opponent's baseball bat
per game. Lamont challenged Belle's bat with umpire
Dave Phillips, who confiscated the bat and locked it in the umpires' dressing room.
to retrieve the bat. Grimsley took a bat belonging to Indians player Paul Sorrento
and accessed the area above the false ceiling in the clubhouse and crawled across with a flashlight in his mouth until he reached the umpires' room. He switched Belle's bat with Sorrento's and returned to the clubhouse. During the sixth inning, the umpires' custodian noticed clumps of ceiling tile on the floor of the umpire's room, plus twisted metal brackets in the ceiling. After the game, Phillips noticed the bats were different when he saw that the replacement bat was not as shiny and also was stamped with Sorrento's signature. The Chicago police
were called and the White Sox threatened charges against the burglar. An investigation that Saturday was carried out by a former FBI
agent flown in by MLB. The equipment room was dusted
for fingerprints and the path the burglar took was discovered.
to produce Belle's original, unaltered bat. Initially, the AL had threatened to involve the FBI in regards to the burglary, but they dropped the issue in exchange for the bat. On July 18, the bat was sent to the MLB in New York where it was x-ray
ed and then sawed in half in the presence of Belle and Indians GM John Hart
. The bat was found to be corked and Belle was suspended
by the AL for 10 games. On appeal, his suspension was dropped to seven games.
, Grimsley revealed his participation in an interview with The New York Times
. He stated that he had used Sorrento's bat to replace Belle's because all of Belle's bats were corked. This story was corroborated by Indians shortstop
Omar Vizquel
in his 2002 book, where he confirmed that all of Belle's bats were indeed corked.
Ironically, Belle would sign with the White Sox before the 1997 season, and is the current single season home run leader for the team with 49 in 1998
.
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
during a major league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
game. In the first inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of the game between the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, White Sox manager Gene Lamont
Gene Lamont
Gene William Lamont is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who managed the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
was tipped off that Indians batter Albert Belle
Albert Belle
Albert Jojuan Belle is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles...
was using a corked baseball bat
Corked bat
In baseball, a corked bat is a specially modified baseball bat that has been filled with cork or other lighter, less dense substances to make the bat lighter without losing much power. A lighter bat gives a hitter a quicker swing and may improve the hitter's timing...
. Under the rules
Baseball rules
The rules of baseball differ slightly from league to league, but in general share the same basic gameplay.-Codes:There are several major rules codes, which differ only slightly....
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, a manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
may challenge one opponent's baseball bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
per game. Lamont challenged Belle's bat with umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Dave Phillips, who confiscated the bat and locked it in the umpires' dressing room.
The theft
The Indians, knowing the bat was indeed corked, dispatched relief pitcher Jason GrimsleyJason Grimsley
Jason Alan Grimsley is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He made his debut on September 8, , and pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Anaheim Angels, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and most recently, the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Major league...
to retrieve the bat. Grimsley took a bat belonging to Indians player Paul Sorrento
Paul Sorrento
Paul Anthony Sorrento is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 1999, Sorrento played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and accessed the area above the false ceiling in the clubhouse and crawled across with a flashlight in his mouth until he reached the umpires' room. He switched Belle's bat with Sorrento's and returned to the clubhouse. During the sixth inning, the umpires' custodian noticed clumps of ceiling tile on the floor of the umpire's room, plus twisted metal brackets in the ceiling. After the game, Phillips noticed the bats were different when he saw that the replacement bat was not as shiny and also was stamped with Sorrento's signature. The Chicago police
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
were called and the White Sox threatened charges against the burglar. An investigation that Saturday was carried out by a former FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agent flown in by MLB. The equipment room was dusted
Fingerprint powder
Fingerprint powders are fine powders used in dusting for fingerprints by crime scene investigators and others in law enforcement. The process of dusting for fingerprints involves various methods intended to get the particles of the powder to adhere to residue left by friction ridge skin on the...
for fingerprints and the path the burglar took was discovered.
Recovery and judgment
The Indians were ordered by the American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
to produce Belle's original, unaltered bat. Initially, the AL had threatened to involve the FBI in regards to the burglary, but they dropped the issue in exchange for the bat. On July 18, the bat was sent to the MLB in New York where it was x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
ed and then sawed in half in the presence of Belle and Indians GM John Hart
John Hart (baseball)
John Henry Hart is an American Major League Baseball executive. In addition, he is the former general manager of the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers; now he currently serves as senior adviser, baseball operations, for the Rangers...
. The bat was found to be corked and Belle was suspended
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
by the AL for 10 games. On appeal, his suspension was dropped to seven games.
Grimsley comes clean
Initially, Grimsley's participation in the "caper" was a secret. In 1999, when he was a pitcher for the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Grimsley revealed his participation in an interview with The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. He stated that he had used Sorrento's bat to replace Belle's because all of Belle's bats were corked. This story was corroborated by Indians shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Omar Vizquel
Omar Vizquel
Omar Enrique Vizquel González , nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. Vizquel has played for the Seattle Mariners , the Cleveland Indians , the San Francisco Giants , the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox...
in his 2002 book, where he confirmed that all of Belle's bats were indeed corked.
Ironically, Belle would sign with the White Sox before the 1997 season, and is the current single season home run leader for the team with 49 in 1998
1998 Chicago White Sox season
The 1998 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 99th season. They finished with a record 80-82, good enough for 2nd place in the American League Central, 9 games behind the 1st place Cleveland Indians.-Offseason:...
.