October 1, 2000 – Bottom of the 8th. Final at-bat. Final home run.

Albert Belle steps in against Denny Neagle of the Yankees. The Orioles trail 3–1.

One pitch later—BOOM—Belle hammers a fastball into the left field seats at Camden Yards. A 3-run shot. His 23rd home run of the season. His 381st—and final—Major League home run.

He rounds the bases like it’s business as usual. No one in the crowd of 47,000 knows it’ll be the last time he ever picks up a bat in an MLB game.

He wouldn’t take the field again. He wouldn’t get another plate appearance. This was it. The end of one of the most dominant 12-year careers in baseball history—ending not with a whimper, but with a missile.

They never gave him a goodbye. So we will.

Belle’s final swing—raw, violent, and unmistakably Albert.

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