Ronnie Belliard
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ronnie" Belliard (born April 7, 1975 in The Bronx
, New York
) is a retired Major League Baseball
second baseman
of Dominican
descent.
in Miami, Florida
. He is a distant cousin of former major league shortstop
Rafael Belliard
.
in the 8th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
. Belliard played in the Brewers farm system from 1994–1999, winning Texas League
All-Star honors in 1996 and in 1998 he was honored as a Triple-A All-Star, International League
All-Star, Baseball America
1st Team Minor League All-Star and Brewers Minor League Player of the Year.
He made his Major League debut on September 12, 1998 as a pinch runner against the Chicago Cubs
and he got his first Major League hit in his first at-bat, as a pinch hitter, on September 16 against the Cincinnati Reds
.
In , Belliard was named Milwaukee Brewers rookie player of the year. After he began the season at Triple A
Louisville
, he was recalled on May 11. He finished the season tops among National League
rookies in almost every offensive category, including batting average
(1st), runs batted in (6th), multi-hit games (4th), runs (6th), hits (4th), total bases
(5th), doubles (2nd), triples (T-3rd), hitting streaks (T-5th), walks (1st), on-base percentage (1st), slugging percentage (3rd) and extra base hits (4th). Ronnie hit his first Major league home run
and drove in his first run with a solo shot May 15.
In , Belliard established career highs in several categories, including games (152), runs scored (83), hits (150) and doubles (30) while setting the Brewers' National League franchise record with career-high 9 triples.
saw Belliard set a career mark with 11 home runs and equaled a career-high with 30 doubles previously set in 2000. Ronnie was Milwaukee's Opening Day second baseman.
In , Belliard played second base (49 games) and third base (42 games) for Milwaukee.
after being non-tendered by Milwaukee on December 20 and became the first non-roster invitee in franchise history to start on Opening Day.
for the campaign. In 2004 Belliard enjoyed a fine season from an offensive standpoint, stabilizing the second base position after the club experienced inconsistency at the position in 2003. Ronnie amassed career-highs in hits (169), doubles (48) and RBI (70) and also set a new career-high with 12 HR. He finished 2nd in the American League
with 48 doubles, which represented the highest total by an Indian since Albert Belle's
52 in 1995. His .282 batting average at second base led all AL second basemen. His 169 hits ranked 2nd and his 69 RBI placed 4th among league 2B. Belliard earned his first trip to the All-Star Game
after hitting .304 (103-339) in the first half with 5 home-runs and 37 RBI in 84 games (was voted in by players). He avoided arbitration and signed a 1-year contract on December 20 with a club option for 2006. In 2005
, Belliard collected new career-highs in homers (17) and RBI (78) as he finished 3rd among AL second basemen in RBI and doubles (36) and 4th in home runs.
for utility infielder Héctor Luna
in a move designed to acquire for St. Louis an every-day second baseman for the stretch run, and to provide bench bat strength for Cleveland.
Belliard was a key part of the Cardinals' success in the 2006 National League Division Series
when he hit .462 with two RBI and two runs scored. The Cardinals defeated the San Diego Padres
three games to one to advance to the National League Championship Series
. Belliard eventually won his first championship ring when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series
, defeating the Detroit Tigers
, four games to one. At the end of the season, however, Belliard was not re-signed, and became a free agent.
on February 18, . He was added to the Nationals' 40-man roster on March 22, 2007. Following an Opening Day injury to shortstop Cristian Guzmán
, second baseman Felipe Lopez
was moved to shortstop, while Belliard filled in at second base. Guzmán came back in early May, but at the end of June suffered a season ending injury putting Belliard back into the starting line-up. By July 23 Belliard had appeared in 85 of the Nationals 98 games, batting .305, and signed a two-year $3.5 million extension with the Nationals. He was viewed as a valuable veteran, capable of starting or as a utility infielder.
Belliard hit a game-ending 2-run home run shot off of closer George Sherrill
with 2 outs and 2 strikes in 12th inning, erasing a 2-1 deficit on June 29, against the Baltimore Orioles
.
On August 22, , Belliard was a triple away from the cycle as he singled, doubled twice, and homered in a Nationals 13 to 5 victory over the Chicago Cubs
at Wrigley Field
.
At the end of the Belliard set career highs with .473 slugging and .372 on-base percentages despite missing nearly 2 months with injuries. He hit 11 home runs in 96 games (296 at bats) making his ratio of 26.9 at bats-per-home run. This ranked second among Nationals behind Elijah Dukes
.
. Belliard said this about the trade:
In his first at-bat as a Dodger, Belliard hit a home run against Doug Davis of the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
In 24 games with the Dodgers, he hit .351 with 5 home runs and took over the starting second baseman job from Orlando Hudson
for the post-season.
On January 26, 2010, the Dodgers re-signed Belliard to a 1 year $850,000 contract. He played in 82 games as a part-time player for the Dodgers in 2010, hitting .216. He was designated for assignment on September 7, 2010 and then released on September 9.
worth $825,000. On March 28, the Yankees released Belliard.
On June 14, 2011 Belliard announced his retirement
in the Dominican Winter League.
Federal prosecutors only described the athlete in court as "the victim." Court papers referred only to a "John Doe
" in accusing George Edwards, 48, of extortion for allegedly seeking money for silence about the player supposedly impregnating Edwards' daughter.
Belliard's agent, Dominic Torres, confirmed that Belliard was the player at the center of the extortion case and provided this statement:
An affidavit by FBI Special Agent Dustin Sorrells said this about the case:
George Edwards admitted to hatching the scheme in court documents and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry to one year and one day
in prison. It was less than the recommended range of 21 to 27 months, based on Edwards' past criminal convictions. Perry said she considered the case's unusual circumstances.
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is a retired 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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
of Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
descent.
Early life
Belliard attended Central High SchoolMiami Central High School
Miami Central Senior High School, commonly referred to as Central Rockets, is a secondary school located at 1781 NW 95th Street in West Little River, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. The school serves most of the northern fringes of the city of Miami as well as parts of North Miami,...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. He is a distant cousin of former major league 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...
Rafael Belliard
Rafael Belliard
Rafael Leonidas Belliard Matias is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He is currently the infield coach for the Detroit Tigers....
.
Milwaukee Brewers
Belliard was drafted by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 8th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
. Belliard played in the Brewers farm system from 1994–1999, winning Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star honors in 1996 and in 1998 he was honored as a Triple-A All-Star, International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
All-Star, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
1st Team Minor League All-Star and Brewers Minor League Player of the Year.
He made his Major League debut on September 12, 1998 as a pinch runner against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and he got his first Major League hit in his first at-bat, as a pinch hitter, on September 16 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
In , Belliard was named Milwaukee Brewers rookie player of the year. After he began the season at Triple A
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
Louisville
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
, he was recalled on May 11. He finished the season tops among National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
rookies in almost every offensive category, including batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(1st), runs batted in (6th), multi-hit games (4th), runs (6th), hits (4th), total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(5th), doubles (2nd), triples (T-3rd), hitting streaks (T-5th), walks (1st), on-base percentage (1st), slugging percentage (3rd) and extra base hits (4th). Ronnie hit his first Major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and drove in his first run with a solo shot May 15.
In , Belliard established career highs in several categories, including games (152), runs scored (83), hits (150) and doubles (30) while setting the Brewers' National League franchise record with career-high 9 triples.
saw Belliard set a career mark with 11 home runs and equaled a career-high with 30 doubles previously set in 2000. Ronnie was Milwaukee's Opening Day second baseman.
In , Belliard played second base (49 games) and third base (42 games) for Milwaukee.
Colorado Rockies
On January 17, , Belliard was signed as a minor league free agent by the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
after being non-tendered by Milwaukee on December 20 and became the first non-roster invitee in franchise history to start on Opening Day.
Cleveland Indians
Belliard signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
for the campaign. In 2004 Belliard enjoyed a fine season from an offensive standpoint, stabilizing the second base position after the club experienced inconsistency at the position in 2003. Ronnie amassed career-highs in hits (169), doubles (48) and RBI (70) and also set a new career-high with 12 HR. He finished 2nd in the American League
American 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...
with 48 doubles, which represented the highest total by an Indian since Albert Belle's
Albert Belle
Albert Jojuan Belle is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles...
52 in 1995. His .282 batting average at second base led all AL second basemen. His 169 hits ranked 2nd and his 69 RBI placed 4th among league 2B. Belliard earned his first trip to the All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
after hitting .304 (103-339) in the first half with 5 home-runs and 37 RBI in 84 games (was voted in by players). He avoided arbitration and signed a 1-year contract on December 20 with a club option for 2006. In 2005
2005 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the 2005 World Series.*2005 also marked the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals, who relocated from Montreal and were formerly known as the Expos....
, Belliard collected new career-highs in homers (17) and RBI (78) as he finished 3rd among AL second basemen in RBI and doubles (36) and 4th in home runs.
St. Louis Cardinals
On Sunday, July 30 , Belliard was traded to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for utility infielder Héctor Luna
Héctor Luna
Héctor R. Luna is a Dominican professional baseball infielder. He is primarily an infielder, but has played every position at the major league level except pitcher and catcher....
in a move designed to acquire for St. Louis an every-day second baseman for the stretch run, and to provide bench bat strength for Cleveland.
Belliard was a key part of the Cardinals' success in the 2006 National League Division Series
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
when he hit .462 with two RBI and two runs scored. The Cardinals defeated the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
three games to one to advance to the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
. Belliard eventually won his first championship ring when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series
2006 World Series
The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
, defeating the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, four games to one. At the end of the season, however, Belliard was not re-signed, and became a free agent.
Washington Nationals
Belliard signed a minor league contract with the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on February 18, . He was added to the Nationals' 40-man roster on March 22, 2007. Following an Opening Day injury to shortstop Cristian Guzmán
Cristian Guzmán
Cristian Antonio Guzmán is a Dominican baseball player who plays second base and shortstop, who is currently a free agent.-Minnesota Twins:...
, second baseman Felipe Lopez
Felipe López (baseball player)
Felipe López is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent.-High school career:...
was moved to shortstop, while Belliard filled in at second base. Guzmán came back in early May, but at the end of June suffered a season ending injury putting Belliard back into the starting line-up. By July 23 Belliard had appeared in 85 of the Nationals 98 games, batting .305, and signed a two-year $3.5 million extension with the Nationals. He was viewed as a valuable veteran, capable of starting or as a utility infielder.
Belliard hit a game-ending 2-run home run shot off of closer George Sherrill
George Sherrill
George Friederich Sherrill , also known as "The Brim Reaper", "Flat Breezy", and "Duckbill" , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent-College and independent baseball:Sherrill was not drafted after graduating from Austin Peay State...
with 2 outs and 2 strikes in 12th inning, erasing a 2-1 deficit on June 29, against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
On August 22, , Belliard was a triple away from the cycle as he singled, doubled twice, and homered in a Nationals 13 to 5 victory over the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
.
At the end of the Belliard set career highs with .473 slugging and .372 on-base percentages despite missing nearly 2 months with injuries. He hit 11 home runs in 96 games (296 at bats) making his ratio of 26.9 at bats-per-home run. This ranked second among Nationals behind Elijah Dukes
Elijah Dukes
Elijah David Dukes, Jr. is an American professional baseball player. A right-handed outfielder, he currently plays for the Newark Bears.-High school years:...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On August 30, , Belliard was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor leaguer Luis GarciaLuis García
Luis García or Luis Garcia or may refer to:*Luis Armand Garcia, American actor*Luis García Anchundia, Ecuadorian footballer*Luis García Berlanga, Spanish film director and screenwriter*Luis García Conde, Spanish football goalkeeper...
. Belliard said this about the trade:
In his first at-bat as a Dodger, Belliard hit a home run against Doug Davis of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
In 24 games with the Dodgers, he hit .351 with 5 home runs and took over the starting second baseman job from Orlando Hudson
Orlando Hudson
Orlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
for the post-season.
On January 26, 2010, the Dodgers re-signed Belliard to a 1 year $850,000 contract. He played in 82 games as a part-time player for the Dodgers in 2010, hitting .216. He was designated for assignment on September 7, 2010 and then released on September 9.
New York Yankees
On February 4, 2011, Belliard reportedly agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with 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...
worth $825,000. On March 28, the Yankees released Belliard.
Philadelphia Phillies
On March 30, 2011 Belliard reportedly agreed to a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.On June 14, 2011 Belliard announced his retirement
Offseason
During the offseason, he plays with, and is the captain of the Tigres del LiceyTigres del Licey
Tigres del Licey is a professional baseball team founded in 1907 based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is one of the two franchises of the Capital city of the country, the oldest and one of the most successful teams in the Dominican league, having won 22 Dominican titles and 10 Caribbean...
in the Dominican Winter League.
Extortion case
Federal authorities in St. Louis said a man, George Edwards, tried to get an athlete (not releasing his name, though Belliard's agent later confirmed it was the second baseman) to pay $150,000 to keep quiet about a sexual encounter with Edwards' daughter, Laura L. Edwards, which allegedly resulted in a pregnancy.Federal prosecutors only described the athlete in court as "the victim." Court papers referred only to a "John Doe
John Doe
The name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
" in accusing George Edwards, 48, of extortion for allegedly seeking money for silence about the player supposedly impregnating Edwards' daughter.
Belliard's agent, Dominic Torres, confirmed that Belliard was the player at the center of the extortion case and provided this statement:
An affidavit by FBI Special Agent Dustin Sorrells said this about the case:
George Edwards admitted to hatching the scheme in court documents and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry to one year and one day
Year and a day rule
The year and a day rule has been a common traditional length of time for establishing differences in legal status. The phrase "year and a day rule" is most commonly associated with the former common law standard that death could not be legally attributed to acts or omissions that occurred more...
in prison. It was less than the recommended range of 21 to 27 months, based on Edwards' past criminal convictions. Perry said she considered the case's unusual circumstances.