1980’s American League Rookie of the Year Joe Charboneau has been arrested for taking part in a bar fight in North Ridgeville, Ohio Tuesday night, and may have put his job running the city’s softball and baseball programs in jeopardy by doing so.

Now fifty-three, “Super Joe” became a Cleveland hero in 1980 when he lead the Indians with 23 homers and earned a reputation for off the field wackiness that included dyeing his hair unusual colors, opening beer bottles with his eye socket, and doing his own dental work. Despite the promising start to his career, a back injury lead to Joe playing his final Big League game in 1982.

After hangin’ ‘em up Joe appeared as an extra in the baseball flick “The Natural,” and found work as a minor league hitting instructor. In 2000 Joe briefly stepped away from his post as hitting coach for Canton of the Pioneer League to take one at bat with the team. Impressively, the then forty-five year old singled.

North Ridgeville’s mayor, David Gillock, told the Plain Dealer that the city will wait for the police report that details the fight before making a decision on Charboneau’s current job.

In a statement released by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids “on occasion” throughout his career including the 1998 season, when he set the then single season record for home runs with seventy.

“I never knew when,” Mark wrote, “but I always knew this day would come. It’s time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize.”

The former Athletics and Cardinals’ admission should make it easier for him to slip into his new role as the Cardinals hitting coach. Some Cardinals insiders had expressed concern upon his being hired that continued interest in whether he used steroid might become a distraction to the team.

In 2008 we did a long article about Lenny Dykstra and his post-baseball life as an entrepreneur and investment advisor. Since then things have not gone so well for the one-time Mets and Phillies’ hero.

Check out the 2009 Lenny had:

• After boasting of a sixty million dollar fortune early in the year, Lenny filed for bankruptcy.
• Lenny’s wife, Terri, filed for divorce.
• In order to help pay his debt, Lenny was forced to auction off  his 1986 Mets’ World Series ring and trophy.
• Nails was “nailed” with many lawsuits,  bringing the total number of legal actions against him to twenty-four since 2007.

Lenny’s troubles extended to his son, Cutter, as well. The highly touted outfield prospect only managed to hit .212 with the Brewers single A club.

Here’s hoping 2010 brings the Dykstra men some better luck!

Expos and Cubs’ legend Andre Dawson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

The Hawk never won a World Series title during his playing days, but accomplished almost everything else in a twenty-one year career that saw the eight time all-star snag the Gold Glove (Eight times), Rookie of the Year (1977), and Most Valuable Player (1987) awards.

Since hangin’ ‘em up the longtime Miami resident has worked as a special assistant with the Florida Marlins. He finally won a World Series ring as a member of the front office during the team’s 2003 World Champion season.

Congrats, Andre!

Darryl Strawberry has been selected by Donald Trump to compete on the 2010 version of “Celebrity Apprentice.” Among the celebs joining the former Mets and Yankees slugger will be ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, musician Cyndi Lauper, Sharon Osbourne, ”Rock of Love” star Bret Michaels and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Summer Sanders.

The eight time All-Star and 1983 National League Rookie of the Year award winner has significantly rehabilitated his image in recent years, and could do so even more with a good showing on the NBC hit. In addition to starting “The Darryl Strawberry Foundation” which is dedicated to fighting autism, he also wrote the memoir “Straw: Finding My Way,” which chronicles how he overcame adversity including a bout with colon cancer.

Give “The Don” heck, Straw. He can’t be any more demanding than your old boss, George Steinbrenner!