George Bell
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1981-1993)
George Bell was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1993 for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago White Sox, a span of 13 seasons. In 1,587 career games, he hit .278 with 1,702 hits, 265 home runs, and 1,002 RBI. George Bell was a 3-time All-Star, an MVP, and a 3-time Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 10,532.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'1" / 190 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1981-04-09
- Last Game
- 1993-10-02
- Awards
- 3× All-Star · MVP · 3× Silver Slugger
Full name: George Antonio Bell
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,587 | 6,123 | 814 | 1,702 | 308 | 34 | 265 | 1,002 | 67 | 331 | 771 | .278 | .316 | .469 | .785 | 10,532 |
Career AVG .278 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — +7.7% above league average.
Career OBP .316 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .469 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — +20.9% above league average.
Career OPS .785 vs. league average .712 across their career seasons — +10.3% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TOR | AL | 60 | 163 | 19 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 27 | .233 | .255 (-9%) | .320 (-20%) | .368 (-5%) | .688 (-12%) | -333.4 |
| 1983 | TOR | AL | 39 | 112 | 5 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 17 | .268 | .260 (+3%) | .324 (-6%) | .389 (+12%) | .714 (+4%) | 31.1 |
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 159 | 606 | 85 | 177 | 39 | 4 | 26 | 87 | 11 | 24 | 86 | .292 | .259 (+12%) | .322 (+1%) | .384 (+30%) | .707 (+17%) | 1752.9 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 157 | 607 | 87 | 167 | 28 | 6 | 28 | 95 | 21 | 43 | 90 | .275 | .257 (+7%) | .323 (+1%) | .390 (+23%) | .714 (+13%) | 1395.5 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 159 | 641 | 101 | 198 | 38 | 6 | 31 | 108 | 7 | 41 | 62 | .309 | .257 (+20%) | .325 (+7%) | .395 (+35%) | .720 (+22%) | 2643.3 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | 156 | 610 | 111 | 188 | 32 | 4 | 47 | 134 | 5 | 39 | 75 | .308 | .262 (+17%) | .331 (+6%) | .415 (+46%) | .746 (+28%) | 3306.3 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 156 | 614 | 78 | 165 | 27 | 5 | 24 | 97 | 4 | 34 | 66 | .269 | .254 (+6%) | .317 (-4%) | .377 (+18%) | .695 (+8%) | 678.8 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | 153 | 613 | 88 | 182 | 41 | 2 | 18 | 104 | 4 | 33 | 60 | .297 | .254 (+17%) | .319 (+3%) | .375 (+22%) | .694 (+13%) | 1321.2 |
| 1990 | TOR | AL | 142 | 562 | 67 | 149 | 25 | 0 | 21 | 86 | 3 | 32 | 80 | .265 | .257 (+3%) | .324 (-7%) | .385 (+9%) | .710 (+2%) | -0.5 |
| 1991 | CHN | NL | 149 | 558 | 63 | 159 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 86 | 2 | 32 | 62 | .285 | .255 (+11%) | .323 (avg) | .384 (+22%) | .708 (+12%) | 1089.6 |
| 1992 | CHA | AL | 155 | 627 | 74 | 160 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 112 | 5 | 31 | 97 | .255 | .255 (avg) | .322 (-9%) | .377 (+11%) | .699 (+2%) | 2.0 |
| 1993 | CHA | AL | 102 | 410 | 36 | 89 | 17 | 2 | 13 | 64 | 1 | 13 | 49 | .217 | .265 (-18%) | .332 (-27%) | .403 (-10%) | .735 (-18%) | -1355.0 |
| Career · 12 seasons | 1,587 | 6,123 | 814 | 1,702 | 308 | 34 | 265 | 1,002 | 67 | 331 | 771 | .278 | — | — | — | — | 10,532 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1587 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 796 | 2992 | 404 | 844 | 120 | 509 | .282 |
| Away | 791 | 3131 | 410 | 858 | 145 | 493 | .274 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-10-02 | CHW | CLE | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-10-01 | CHW | CLE | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-30 | CHW | SEA | L | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993-09-29 | CHW | SEA | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993-09-27 | CHW | SEA | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993-09-26 | CHW | TEX | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1993-09-24 | CHW | TEX | W | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-23 | CHW | LAA | W | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-21 | CHW | LAA | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-20 | CHW | LAA | W | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 1227 | 1211 | 2292 | 81 | 88 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TOR | OF | 44 | 37 | 92 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983 | TOR | OF | 34 | 32 | 61 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | TOR | 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | TOR | OF | 147 | 144 | 289 | 11 | 9 | 1 |
| 1985 | TOR | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | TOR | OF | 157 | 157 | 320 | 13 | 11 | 3 |
| 1986 | TOR | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | TOR | OF | 147 | 147 | 269 | 17 | 10 | 1 |
| 1987 | TOR | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | TOR | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | TOR | OF | 148 | 147 | 248 | 14 | 11 | 1 |
| 1988 | TOR | OF | 149 | 147 | 253 | 8 | 15 | 1 |
| 1989 | TOR | OF | 134 | 134 | 258 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| 1990 | TOR | OF | 106 | 106 | 226 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 1991 | CHN | OF | 146 | 145 | 249 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| 1992 | CHA | OF | 15 | 15 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 8 |
| Left Field | 1123 |
| Right Field | 114 |
| Designated Hitter | 340 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-05-22 |
| 1992 | Player of the Week | Week of 1992-07-04 |
| 1992 | Player of the Week | Week of 1992-08-08 |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-06-09 |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-06-23 |
| 1989 | Player of the Month | August |
| 1989 | Player of the Week | Week of 1989-08-18 |
| 1988 | Player of the Week | Week of 1988-04-08 |
| 1988 | Player of the Week | Week of 1988-09-02 |
| 1987 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1987 | Player of the Week | Week of 1987-06-13 |
| 1987 | Player of the Week | Week of 1987-08-01 |
| 1987 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1987 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1987 | TSN Major League Player of the Year | |
| 1987 | TSN Player of the Year | |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-09-05 |
| 1986 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1986 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1985 | Silver Slugger | OF |
Salary History
George Bell's recorded salaries total $17,485,000 over 9 seasons, 1985 to 1993. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Bell's career ran from 1981 to 1993. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | CHA | AL | $3,650,000 |
| 1992 | CHA | AL | $3,650,000 |
| 1991 | CHN | NL | $2,150,000 |
| 1990 | TOR | AL | $2,000,000 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | $1,900,000 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | $1,900,000 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | $1,175,000 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | $725,000 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | $335,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $17,485,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 3.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1989 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 205.0 | 392 | 4 |
| 1987 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 332.0 | 392 | 16 |
| 1986 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 125.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1985 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 84.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 5.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1981 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 8th | 2.0 | 140 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
George Bell (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare George Bell
George Bell: the record in brief
George Bell played a first major league game on April 9, 1981 and a last one on October 2, 1993. Bell played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1981 through 1990), the Chicago Cubs (1991), and the Chicago White Sox (1992 through 1993). Bell, an outfielder by primary position, both batted and threw right-handed. The recorded size is 6 feet, 1 inch and 190 pounds. The birth record reads October 21, 1959, in San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macorís, D.R. Bell's full given name, per the bio, is George Antonio Bell.
Bell's career batting table shows 1,587 games, 6,123 at bats and 1,702 hits, a .278 average, plus 265 homers, 1,002 runs batted in, and 67 stolen bases. Bell's career OPS of .785 combines a .316 on-base mark with .469 slugging. Bell's .278 average ran 7.7% above the .258 that the league posted over the same seasons. By OPS the gap is 10.3% above league average (.785 against .712).
Frequently Asked Questions about George Bell
- What years did George Bell play?
- George Bell played in Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1993.
- Was George Bell a pitcher?
- No. George Bell was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did George Bell hit?
- George Bell hit 265 career home runs with 1,702 hits.
- What teams did George Bell play for?
- George Bell played for 3 teams: the Toronto Blue Jays (1981, 1983–1990), the Chicago Cubs (1991), and the Chicago White Sox (1992–1993).
- How many MVP awards did George Bell win?
- George Bell won 1 MVP award, in 1987.
- What awards did George Bell win?
- George Bell won the MVP award (1987) and 3 Silver Slugger awards (1985, 1986, and 1987). He was selected to 3 All-Star Games.
- What were George Bell's career stats?
- In 1,587 games, George Bell had 1,702 hits, 265 home runs, 1,002 RBI, 814 runs, and 67 stolen bases, with a .278 batting average.
- How much did George Bell earn in his career?
- George Bell's recorded salaries total $17,485,000 over 9 seasons, 1985 to 1993. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Bell's career ran from 1981 to 1993. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was George Bell's salary?
- George Bell's last recorded salary was $3,650,000, in 1993. His highest recorded salary was $3,650,000, in 1992, and his lowest was $335,000, in 1985. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1993.
- What position did George Bell play?
- George Bell played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was George Bell and how much did he weigh?
- George Bell was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 190 pounds.
- How many home runs did George Bell hit each season?
- George Bell's home runs by season: 5 in 1981, 2 in 1983, 26 in 1984, 28 in 1985, 31 in 1986, 47 in 1987, 24 in 1988, 18 in 1989, 21 in 1990, 25 in 1991, 25 in 1992, and 13 in 1993. His most in one season was 47, in 1987.
- What was George Bell's career batting average?
- George Bell batted .278 over his career, with 1,702 hits in 6,123 at bats.
- How many RBI did George Bell have?
- George Bell drove in 1,002 runs in his career.