ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997 TAG: 9704230074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BALTIMORE
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baltimore's Roberto Alomar and umpire John Hirschbeck try to bring closure to one of the ugliest incidents in baseball history.
Roberto Alomar deliberately went out of his way Tuesday night to find John Hirschbeck in short right field - and shake his hand.
With that gesture, the Baltimore second baseman and the umpire hoped to put one of the game's ugliest incidents behind them.
In a scene far different from their last meeting when Alomar spit in Hirschbeck's face, the two reconciled before the Orioles' game against Chicago. Alomar scored the game's first run as Baltimore won 3-2.
Before taking his position, Alomar veered toward Hirschbeck, the first base umpire, to shake his hand and offer a few words.
Many of the fans at Camden Yards applauded their approval.
Last Sept. 27 in Toronto, Alomar spit at Hirschbeck after being called out on strikes and then ejected. The next day, Hirschbeck charged into the Orioles' locker room, vowing to get even with Alomar.
Alomar was suspended for five games, with the penalty not taking effect until this season. The delayed punishment infuriated umpires, who threatened to boycott the playoffs, and made Alomar baseball's Public Enemy No.1.
The spitting incident became the game's most talked about issue among fans, players and umpires. It also served as the impetus for umpires pledging to be tougher on managers and players this season.
Alomar and Hirschbeck want to bring closure to the incident.
``I'm real happy that it's going to happen so we can get this thing over with,'' Alomar said before the game.
``You know, John wants to put everything that happened behind him,'' Alomar said. ``I personally want to put everything that happened behind me. And I hope that from tonight on, you guys can leave me alone and let me play the game of baseball.''
Before the game, Alomar declined to reveal his plan to shake hands with Hirschbeck, saying, ``That's only between him and me. That's all I can say about it.''
That's more than Hirschbeck said before the game. Crew chief Jim McKean barred the media from talking to any of the umpires working the game.
Alomar long ago apologized for his part in the incident. He also donated $50,000 toward research on the disease that killed Hirschbeck's son and served a five-game paid suspension at the beginning of this season. He revealed over the weekend that the money he earned during the suspension - his pay over that seven-day span was $232,000 - will be given to charity.
But Alomar has not been able to shake reporters looking for comment on the issue, nor have fans in opposing ballparks stopped booing him during every at-bat.
Hirschbeck has attempted to do his job without distraction, but the media hasn't given him much of a chance.
``He's a great person,'' Alomar said. ``He wants to go on with his life and it seems like you guys won't let him. Hopefully, I can go on with my life and he can go on with his life and we'll leave it at that.''
It was a sentiment echoed by Orioles manager Davey Johnson, who has seen Alomar struggle to put the incident behind him.
``If you guys would let it alone, we can close it out,'' Johnson said before the game. ``I wish we could just play baseball.''
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Baltimore second baseman Robertoby CNBAlomar (left) and umpire John Hirschbeck shake hands before Tuesday
night's game. color.