Halos Heaven, a Los Angeles Angels community

Look at the top ten-twenty players listed at each position. Which is the most likable group of guys? The third basemen, I think. Four of them are famous for being nice people (Robinson, Mathews, Molitor, Hack), as were Pie Traynor and Buddy Bell, and the others are all OK, not a real asshole among them. Well, Graig Nettles could be a jerk sometimes.... The left fielders are the worst of the bunch; in the top thirty you've got Ted Williams, Rickey Henderson, Joe Jackson, Goose Goslin, Jim Rice, Jesse Burkett, Joe Medwick, Ralph Kiner, and Albert Belle. Boy, there's a family re-union you can leave me out of...

I mentioned in the column that if he even tried just a little not to be the world’s biggest jerk, he’d own the city. It led to an ugly scene in the clubhouse the next day. Albert accused me of going into his locker and reading his index cards. Uh, right. Nobody, including other players, went anywhere near Albert’s locker. I’d be more likely to willingly visit a hell mouth.

I noticed as the confrontation was developing that lots of players and media were moving away from where Albert and I were standing. I could see one guy sidling toward me out of the corner of my eye. Finally Sandy Alomar Jr. rushed in and saved me from possibly being pile driven or hit with the roll of quarters Albert no doubt kept in his waistband for just such occasions.