WSC Birth Years: Orlando Cabrera

Card #89 - Orlando Cabrera

Born: November 2, 1974

No one ever questioned the ability of Orlando when he was on the South Side. He hovered around his career averages in most categories during 2008. The unraveling of Cabrera's Pale Hose career was slow, but spectacular.

Orlando played along, in the beginning. He joked around in White Sox commercials and went about his business, saying the right things and doing an above average job at the plate and in the field. Then the cracks began to appear.

Cabrera started arguing repeatedly with skipper Ozzie Guillen. He left the clubhouse early on multiple occasions to avoid the press. Orlando also called the press box on at least two occasions to have his errors overturned. He questioned the winning attitude of his team. The final straw came during the 2008 ALDS, when he kicked dirt at Rays pitcher Grant Balfour, during an at-bat. In the two years following his departure from Chicago, Cabrera has played for the Athletics, Twins and Reds.