Derek Bell (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Derek Bell |
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Bell c. 1988
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: December 11, 1968 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 28, 1991, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 3, 2001, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .276 | ||
| Home runs | 134 | ||
| Runs batted in | 668 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Derek Nathaniel Bell (born December 11, 1968) is a former American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates. His career in MLB lasted from 1991 to 2001. A big highlight of his career was winning the World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992.
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Early Baseball Years
Derek Bell is one of only a few players who played in both the Little League World Series and the Major League World Series. In 1980 and 1981, he played for Belmont Heights Little League in Tampa, Florida. His team won the US championship both years. They then played against Taiwan in the world championship game, but lost. Bell is the only player to appear in the Little League World Series twice and later play in the big-league World Series.
Joining the Blue Jays
When Derek Bell was in high school, the Toronto Blue Jays noticed his talent. They chose him in the second round of the 1987 baseball draft. This meant he was the 49th player picked overall. Bell signed with the Blue Jays and started his professional career that same year.
He quickly became a promising young player. In 1988, he was named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team. He had a great batting average of .344, which was the best in the league. He also hit 29 doubles, five triples, and 12 home runs. His strong performance helped him move up to a higher level of play.
Rising Through the Ranks
Bell continued to improve in the minor leagues. In 1991, he had an amazing season with the Syracuse Chiefs. He batted .346 with 22 doubles, 12 triples, 13 home runs, and 29 stolen bases. He was named to the International League All-Star team. He also won the International League Most Valuable Player Award. Baseball America magazine even named him the Minor League Player of the Year.
Major League Career Highlights
Toronto Blue Jays Debut
Derek Bell made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on June 28, 1991. He started as the left fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1992, he was supposed to be a regular starter. However, he broke his wrist early in the season. This meant he only played in 61 games that year.
Even with his injury, the Blue Jays had a fantastic season. They won their division and made it to the World Series. They played against the Atlanta Braves and won the championship in six games. This was the Blue Jays' first World Series title.
San Diego Padres Years
Before the 1993 season, the Blue Jays traded Bell to the San Diego Padres. In San Diego, Bell became an everyday player. He showed off his skills by hitting 21 home runs and stealing 26 bases in 1993.
In 1994, his batting average improved to .311. In December of that year, Bell was part of a big trade. He moved from the Padres to the Houston Astros.
Houston Astros Success
When Bell joined the Houston Astros, he became part of a famous group of players. They were known as the "Killer B's" because many of their last names started with "B." This group included stars like Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. These players helped the Astros become a very successful team.
In 1995, Bell had one of his best seasons. He batted .334, which was the fourth-highest in the league. He even received votes for the Most Valuable Player Award. The Astros won three straight division championships from 1997 to 1999. In 1998, Bell had another great year. He batted .314 with 41 doubles and 22 home runs. The Astros won a team-record 102 games that season.
By 1999, Bell's performance started to decline. Later that year, the Astros traded him to the New York Mets.
New York Mets Adventure
Derek Bell was very excited to join the New York Mets. He said, "Christmas came early for me. I'm very happy." As the Mets' starting right fielder, he helped them reach the playoffs. They made it as the National League Wild Card team.
In a fun moment on August 21, Bell got to pitch in a game against the Padres. His first pitch was very slow, clocked at only 47 miles per hour! He gave up some hits and walks, but it was a memorable moment.
During the first game of the 2000 playoffs, Bell sprained his ankle. This injury meant he missed the rest of the playoffs. After the 2000 season, Bell signed a new contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates and "Operation Shutdown"
In 2001, Bell was the starting right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, he struggled to hit well. By mid-May, his batting average was very low. He was sent to a minor league team, but still had trouble hitting. He returned to Pittsburgh in June and played a few more games. His last Major League game was on July 3, 2001.
In spring training of 2002, Bell was told he would have to compete for his starting job. He decided to leave the team on March 29. He was released two days later and never played professional baseball again. Even though he didn't play, the Pirates still paid him the money from his contract. This situation was sometimes called "Operation Shutdown."
Personal Life
Derek Bell enjoys playing video games. He was the runner-up in the 1999 Madden Bowl, a video game competition.
Images for kids
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Bell c. 1988
