When Belle was with the Indians, an opposing manager went to the umpires and told them Belle was using a corked bat. The umpires confiscated Belle's bat and had it locked in the umpires dressing room, until after the game when they could hand it over to baseball officials. While the game was going on, the Indians had pitcher Jason Grimsley crawl through the air ducts so he could get into the umpires dressing room and switch the corked bat with a legitimate one. When Grimsley was ready to go he told the equipment guy to get him another one of Belle's bats for the switch. The equipment guy said, "I can't give you another one of Belle's bats, THEY'RE ALL CORKED!" Grimsley told that story to Yankee announcer Michael Kay, when he was with the Yankees.
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