Roberto Alomar deliberately went out of his way Tuesday night to find John Hirschbeck in short right field - and shake his hand.
With that gesture, the Baltimore second baseman and the umpire hoped to put one of the game's ugliest incidents behind them.In a scene far different from their last meeting when Alomar spit in Hirschbeck's face, the two reconciled before the Orioles' game against Chicago.
Before taking his position, Alomar veered toward Hirschbeck, the first base umpire, to shake his hand and offer a few words.
After the game, Hirschbeck relayed the exchange.
"I'm sorry," Alomar said.
"Thanks, now maybe they'll let us both do our jobs," Hirschbeck replied.
Many of the fans at Camden Yards applauded their approval.
Last Sept. 27 in Toronto, Alomar spit at Hirschbeck after being called out on strikes and then ejected. The next day, Hirschbeck charged into the Orioles' locker room, vowing to get even with Alomar.
Alomar was suspended for five games, with the penalty not taking effect until this season. The delayed punishment infuriated umpires, who threatened to boycott the playoffs, and made Alomar baseball's Public Enemy No. 1.
The spitting incident became the game's most talked-about issue among fans, players and umpires. It also served as the impetus for umpires pledging to be tougher on managers and players this season.
Alomar and Hirschbeck want to bring closure to the incident.
"I'm real happy that it's going to happen so we can get this thing over with," Alomar said before the game.
"You know, John wants to put everything that happened behind him," Alomar said. "I personally want to put everything that happened behind me. And I hope that from tonight on, you guys can leave me alone and let me play the game of baseball."
Before the game, Alomar declined to reveal his plan to shake hands with Hirschbeck, saying, "That's only between him and me. That's all I can say about it."