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 an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams from 1991 to 2001. With the Toronto Blue Jays, he was part of the team that won the 1992 World Series.
Contents
Early Baseball Days: Little League to Minor League
Playing in the Little League World Series
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, Bell played for Belmont Heights Little League in Tampa, Florida. His team won the US championship both years. However, they lost to Taiwan in the world championship game each time. Bell is also the only player to appear in the Little League World Series twice and later play in the big-league World Series.
Becoming a Top Prospect
When Bell attended C. Leon King High School in Tampa, he caught the eye of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays chose him in the second round of the 1987 MLB Draft. He was the 49th player picked overall. Bell signed with Toronto and started his professional career that same year. He played in the New York–Penn League.
Bell became a top young player with the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays in 1988. He was named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team. Bell led the league with a .344 batting average. He also showed great power, hitting 29 doubles, five triples, and 12 home runs. This was in only 352 at bats. His success led to him moving up to Class AA later that season.
Rising Through the Ranks
Bell continued to move up in the minor leagues. He had a strong year in 1991 while playing for the Syracuse Chiefs. That year, Bell batted .346 with 22 doubles, 12 triples, 13 home runs, and 29 stolen bases. Bell was named to the International League All-Star team. He also won the International League Most Valuable Player Award. Baseball America magazine recognized him as the Minor League Player of the Year.
Major League Baseball Career
Joining the Toronto Blue Jays
Derek Bell made his Major League debut on June 28, 1991. He started in left field in a game against the Seattle Mariners. In 1992, Bell was expected to be the Blue Jays' main left fielder. However, he broke his wrist early in the season. He ended up playing in only 61 games as a backup outfielder.
That year, the Blue Jays won their division and reached the World Series. They defeated the Atlanta Braves in six games to win their first championship. Bell was a member of this championship team.
Time with the San Diego Padres
Before the 1993 season, the Blue Jays traded Bell to the San Diego Padres. This trade helped Bell become an everyday player. In 1993, he batted .262, hit 21 home runs, and stole 26 bases.
Bell improved his batting average to .311 in 1994. In December of that year, Bell was part of a large 12-player trade. The Padres sent Bell and five other players to the Houston Astros. In return, the Padres received six players, including Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley.
Becoming a "Killer B" with the Houston Astros
After joining the Houston Astros, Derek Bell became part of their famous "Killer B's" lineup. This group included star players like Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. These players helped the Astros achieve new levels of success. They had many playoff appearances and strong finishes in the 1990s.
Bell had one of his best seasons in 1995. He had a .334 batting average, which was the fourth-highest in the league. He even received votes for the Most Valuable Player Award. The Astros won three straight National League Central division championships from 1997 to 1999. Bell's performance varied, but he had a standout year in 1998. That season, he batted .314 with 41 doubles and 22 home runs. The Astros won a franchise-record 102 games that year.
In 1999, Bell's performance dropped. His batting average was .236. He also had a disagreement with manager Larry Dierker. Many fans were upset by Bell's comments, especially since Dierker had just returned after a serious health issue. The Astros then decided to trade Bell.
Playing for the New York Mets
On December 23, 1999, the Astros traded Bell and pitcher Mike Hampton to the New York Mets. Bell was excited about the trade. He said, "Christmas came early for me. I'm very happy."
With Bell as their starting right fielder, the Mets made the playoffs in 2000. They earned a Wild Card spot in the National League. Bell even got a chance to pitch one inning in a game against the Padres. He threw a very slow pitch, which he called an eephus pitch.
Bell sprained his ankle during the first game of the 2000 playoffs. He missed the rest of the postseason. After the 2000 season, Bell's contract with the Mets ended. He then signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Final Season with the Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2001, Bell was the Pirates' starting right fielder. However, he struggled with his hitting. By mid-May, his batting average was only .136. He was sent to Triple-A Nashville, but his hitting did not improve much there. He returned to Pittsburgh in mid-June and played better for a short time. Still, his overall average for 2001 remained low. His last Major League game was on July 3, 2001.
In spring training 2002, Bell learned he would have to compete for his starting job. Despite his poor performance in 2001, Bell felt he should not have to prove himself. He told reporters that he had not competed for a job since 1991. He stated that if he had to compete, he would go into "Operation Shutdown." Bell left the team on March 29 and was released two days later. He never played professional baseball again. The Pirates still paid him the money from his contract.
Personal Life
Derek Bell competed in the 1999 Madden Bowl, a video game competition. He finished as the runner-up to Ray Mickens.
