Zeke Bella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zeke Bella |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 22, 1930 Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Died: November 17, 2013 (aged 83) Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 11, 1957, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 1959, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .196 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 9 | ||
| Teams | |||
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John "Zeke" Bella (born August 22, 1930 – died November 17, 2013) was an American baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Zeke played in 52 games for two teams: the New York Yankees in 1957 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1959.
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Zeke Bella's Early Life
Zeke Bella was born on August 22, 1930, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He went to Greenwich High School and graduated in 1947. People called him a "super athlete" because he was great at both football and baseball.
Zeke Bella's Baseball Career
Zeke started his professional baseball journey in 1951. He played for a team called the Amsterdam Rugmakers. This team was part of the Yankees' minor league system, also known as a farm system. A farm system helps young players get ready for the big leagues.
Zeke was a bit unusual because he batted with his right hand but threw the ball with his left hand. He was about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed around 185 pounds.
He took a break from baseball for two years to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War. After that, he played for other minor league teams. From 1956 to 1958, he played for the Triple-A Denver Bears. This was the Yankees' top minor league team.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Zeke Bella made his big league debut with the New York Yankees on September 11, 1957. He played in five games for the Yankees. He got one hit in ten tries. These were his only games with the Yankees.
In 1958, he played for the Denver Bears again. Then, on August 22, the Yankees traded him to the Kansas City Athletics. He joined the Athletics and played in 47 games for them in 1959.
Zeke hit his only home run in the major leagues on August 13, 1959. It was a two-run shot against Jack Harshman of the Cleveland Indians. After the 1960 minor league season, Zeke decided to retire from baseball.
During his 52 games in MLB, Zeke Bella had 18 hits. His batting average was .196.
Awards and Special Recognitions
In 2013, Zeke Bella was honored by his old high school. He was put into the Greenwich High School Sports Hall of Fame. This recognized his amazing skills as an athlete.
Zeke Bella's Passing
Zeke Bella passed away on November 17, 2013. He was 83 years old. He died from problems caused by a stroke and injuries from a fall that happened because of the stroke.
