September 16 – Happy Birthday Mel Hall
Just three days ago, this blog celebrated the birthday of Bernie
Williams, the last great Yankee center fielder. Last year on this same date,
the PBB celebrated the birthday of Tim Raines, a Williams’ Yankee
teammate who was also one of the soft-spoken outfielder’s best friends
and biggest admirers. Today we recognize Hall, who was also a teammate
of Williams. But unlike “Rock” Raines, Mel Hall was not a friend or
booster of Bernie’s. Instead, he was one of the talented
switch-hitter’s biggest detractors and most unrelenting antagonists. In
past interviews, Williams credits the ongoing barrage of insults hurled
at him by Hall during Bernie’s 1992 rookie season with the Yankees, as
one of the driving forces behind his development of the mental toughness he now
credits for helping him achieve the success he did during his 16-season
pinstripe career. When that 1992 season ended, the Yankees dumped Hall,
traded their starting center-fielder, Roberto Kelly to the Reds for
Paul O’Neill, who then teamed with Williams to form the core of an
outfield that would lead New York to perpetual postseason appearances
and four World Series rings.
It turned out that Bernie Williams might not have been the only victim of Mel Hall’s
abusive nature. In January of 2009, a Texas jury convicted the former
outfielder of raping a 12-year-old girl he coached on a youth
basketball team. Supporters of Hall have weighed in since I first published this post (see comments) to profess their opinion that Hall was railroaded. He’s now serving a 45 year prison sentence.
Sorry to say, It was sad what happened to Mel Hall as his fellow student which I was back then, He never was inappropriate with us, I was at court, and the girl said on stand it did not happen, and her father said he lied …This could happen to any one it’s the easiest conviction to get with out any proof!!!! No evidence No dna No nothing he got slammed without any evidence!! His attorneys were at fault did a bad job,,,including the Girl that Lied…and changed her story!!!! Hope that the truth will come who helped manifiest this…. to Mr Hall..Sure he had a mouth when he played, but he is a great guy, Funny and did not mean any harm to Bernie neither he was just having fun and Mel always said Bernie is a good guy! and I’m happy that he is doing well for him self. You guys only have **** to say about Mel Hall just because of his out going personality!! but I think he is a great person and really cared about putting us in the best Colleges. That ‘s what he gets.. He does not desire to be in Jail it’s All Lies!!!!!! Then give him 45 Years that says it all Texas is Red Neck and Perjudges!!!!!!.May God be with them!!!!
Hey! Yellow teeth please go get a bleach done….Mel Hall got railroaded with these 2 girls from the same year andthe same team……They only had one on stand becausethe other was giggling to much so the Prosecutors said No way we need to Win!!! so they took the other one that changed her story several times because of her Lies she was scared on the stand but the Pros helped the lies go troght because of practicing for many Years and know which Storys work to Convince the Jurys to be mad and give him the sentence Hard!!!! What a great Bunch!!!! The court systems Sucks!!!!! Before you convict some one they should do some due dillegence!!! They were having a blast in court like a Circus on Mel Hall’s behalf!!! convicting him on his big mouth Not right because he was an easy target….. Poor Representation I feel for him and his Family !!!!! They girl Lied through her teeth and the rest of them like a team were laughing and having Fun!!!! Disgusting People!!!!!!
Since I have now received two comments questioning the fairness of Hall’s treatment by the Texas courts, I have edited the original post in an attempt to make it very clear that I do not cast any personal judgement on Hall’s guilt or innocence in this matter. I do, however, have a personal friend who was inside the Yankee clubhouse on a daily basis when Hall was a member of the team who told me just how mean-spirited the outfielder’s treatment of Bernie Williams was at the time.
Hi Brock,
Thanks for adding on the comment you mentioned. Not his attorney in this case , as I was watching the accuser & Friends it didn’t seem kosher .
They were laughing and dancing when recission came about. The Dad of the accuser was on stand and started crying, that he Lied. So did the girl changed her story.
Mel Hall had bad luck, bad representation that’s what I could say and his attorneys,were not experienced in these type of cases they are very different then other criminal cases. I would have done it differently.
He would Not be in jail, because there was No case or any Hard evidence the Guy got slaughtered.
The 2 girls came 12 years later they were bestfriends same team same year????? Fishy too me… I would of let the Jury’s know…… I would put Closure, and won.
My personal feeling about the Case, They did not do thier homework throughly!(Attorneys) Right there.. No evidence which unfortunately they don’t need any! Just hearsay in Texas…They will close you up. The proscutors are there to win. Not for whats right.
Especially with a Name like Hall Yankees, They get promoted. System Sucks! I hope Hall will gets a good Appellette Attorney .
That is very interesting! I know i use to go to the Yankee stadium religously every weekend, I remembered his Fiance of 2 years promoting her big ring and Clothing designers. What was doing in court after 21 years and lied under oath that she was 15 years old when she met Mel , and they allowed her to do so the prosecutors! That amazing his X Fiance of 20 years ago and she was 17 or 18 years of age. I remember he went to her Grad that she was 17 and just met her…She seemed very smily and happy. I use to see her holding on to his arm I thought it would break thats how tight she held it. Then the B—th goes to court and Lied! Oh she went there for revenge of him Dumping her because of then Stealing his money Her and her Low life FAmily after he spent a million dollars of homes and Cars.Where did he find her ? She looked much older then that , she must of passed through many atheletes and a Very Seasoned Girl….Very Experienced….Too Bad for Hall with these losers that were after him, I do feel bad for the Guy!…Great Ballplayer….