Belle comes calling

The hair and beard are mostly gray. The scowl is gone, a smile in its place. Albert Belle still casts a formidable shadow over the Cleveland Indians, and Tuesday the contentious slugger – who was once the most intimidating hitter in baseball – made a surprise visit to the team he left 16 years ago and had disconnected with completely. Laughing easily, Belle (pictured right) leaned against a wall as the morning sun began to burn through above the Indians’ complex at Goodyear, Ariz., and along with former teammates Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Sandy Alomar Jr. and manager Mike Hargrove, reminisced about those days when the Indians ruled the A.L. “I came to see the guys,” the 45-year-old Belle said. “It’s good to see them again.” – AP