TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Roberto Alomar has career numbers that compare favorably with many of baseball's greatest second basemen. The question is how will one memorable lapse impact his bid to make the Hall of Fame.
On the ballot for the first time, the 12-time All-Star's resume is impressive. He was a two-time World Series champion with Toronto, and hit .300 with 210 homers, 1,134 RBIs and 474 stolen bases in 17 seasons.
But his stats have often been overshadowed by an incident in late 1996 when, after being called out on strikes, he spit in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck.
Alomar and Hirschbeck grew close after that episode.
``We became real good friends,'' Alomar said Thursday. ``He forgave me and I hope all the other people forgive me. Sometimes, we as human beings, we do stupid things. I regret doing that.''
Alomar, relaxed and looking fit, visited with former big league players and other participants at the New York Yankees' fantasy camp. He was with his wife, and they are building a home in the Tampa area.
``I'm married, raising a child, just happy and enjoying life,'' Alomar said.
One of Alomar's biggest Hall of Fame supporters is Hirschbeck.
``It's real special because I got to know not only him, I got to know his family,'' Alomar said. ``I got to spend more time with him.''
Away from the spotlight, Alomar has been teaching at youth baseball camps and helped raise funds for adrenoleukodystrophy, a disease that impacted two of Hirschbeck's sons.
Alomar was involved in an explosive lawsuit earlier this year in which his ex-girlfriend alleged he made her have unprotected sex even though he had AIDS.
The lawsuit was settled in May, and allegations against Alomar were never corroborated. Alomar's attorney, Charles Bach, said the suit was withdrawn voluntarily, but wouldn't say if his client paid any money.
Coming from a baseball family - his father, Sandy Sr. played 15 years in the majors, and brother Sandy Jr. was a six-time All-Star during a 20-year career - makes the Hall of Fame consideration extra special.
``A goal for ballplayers, it's real tough to accomplish, is to get to the Hall of Fame,'' Alomar said. ``It would mean a lot. We, as ballplayers, when they mention your name, that you can be talked about being in the Hall of Fame, if I get there it will be the end of the book. The greatest feeling of my life.''
``I consider this a team effort if I make it because I didn't do it by myself,'' he added. ``I do it with the support of my family, my Little League managers, everyone. All of the dreams from Day One when you start playing the game of baseball.''
After a five-year break, Alomar would like to get back into the game.
``I would love to be involved,'' Alomar said. ``When I left the game it was tough. At the same time, I'm not the kind of player to go out there and just play the game of baseball just to play the game of baseball. I have too much respect for this game. When I saw I was incapable of playing the way I could play, then I decided to retire.''
