Belle Fined $50,000 For World Series Tirade

This time, Albert Belle’s tantrums brought him a record fine.

The temperamental Cleveland Indians outfielder was ordered Thursday to pay $50,000 for his profane tirade toward NBC reporter Hannah Storm during the World Series.

It was the biggest fine ever assessed a baseball player, and acting commissioner Bud Selig had threatened to suspend Belle if he didn’t agree to the terms of the punishment.

Cleveland general manager John Hart and Belle refused comment at the team’s training site in Winter Haven, Fla., but Belle issued a statement through the team.

“For a number of reasons, I have decided not to contest the action,” he said. “Principal among them is my desire to permit the Cleveland Indians to focus on the task at hand - preparing for the upcoming season.”

Second baseman Felix Fermin’s relay throw caught Rico Rossy trying to stretch a double into a triple in the ninth inning as Seattle held on for a 3-2 win over San Diego in Peoria, Ariz. The game was billed as a charity game and won’t count in the spring exhibition standings.

Before the game, the Mariners signed pitcher Bob Wolcott to a one-year contract.

Just two days after he retired, Tony Phillips returned to the Chicago White Sox and said he was ready to play.”He went back and talked to his wife and daughter,” White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said. “He called me, said he thought it over, and said there was no way he could give up baseball now. I’m elated because I knew that deep in my heart, Tony still wants to play.”