George Bell
Born: 10/21/1959 in San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macorís, D.R.
MLB Debut: 1981-04-09 | Final Game: 1993-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: George Antonio Bell
Biography
George Bell, born in 1959, was a prominent Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played from 1981 until his retirement in 1993. Bell's career spanned over a decade during a vibrant era in baseball, marked by offensive prowess and evolving player dynamics. He made a significant impact on the game, particularly during his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he became the franchise's first true superstar. Over the course of 1,587 games, Bell amassed 1,702 hits, 265 home runs, and 1,002 RBIs, showcasing his power and consistency at the plate, culminating in a commendable batting average of .278.
Bell's achievements included three All-Star selections, reflecting his status as one of the premier players of his time. His ability to drive in runs and his formidable presence in the lineup were pivotal in helping the Blue Jays establish themselves as contenders in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Known for his powerful swing and aggressive playing style, Bell also demonstrated speed on the bases, finishing his career with 67 stolen bases. His contributions to baseball and the Blue Jays' legacy remain significant, as he helped lay the groundwork for the team's future successes, including their eventual World Series championships.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1587 | 6123 | 814 | 1702 | 308 | 34 | 265 | 1002 | 67 | 331 | 771 | 0.278 | 0.316 | 0.469 | 0.785 | 10238.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TOR | AL | 60 | 163 | 19 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 0.233 | -370.5 |
| 1983 | TOR | AL | 39 | 112 | 5 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 0.268 | 31.1 |
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 159 | 606 | 85 | 177 | 39 | 4 | 26 | 87 | 11 | 24 | 86 | 0.292 | 1752.9 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 157 | 607 | 87 | 167 | 28 | 6 | 28 | 95 | 21 | 43 | 90 | 0.275 | 1395.5 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 159 | 641 | 101 | 198 | 38 | 6 | 31 | 108 | 7 | 41 | 62 | 0.309 | 2643.3 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | 156 | 610 | 111 | 188 | 32 | 4 | 47 | 134 | 5 | 39 | 75 | 0.308 | 3306.3 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 156 | 614 | 78 | 165 | 27 | 5 | 24 | 97 | 4 | 34 | 66 | 0.269 | 678.8 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | 153 | 613 | 88 | 182 | 41 | 2 | 18 | 104 | 4 | 33 | 60 | 0.297 | 1321.2 |
| 1990 | TOR | AL | 142 | 562 | 67 | 149 | 25 | 0 | 21 | 86 | 3 | 32 | 80 | 0.265 | -0.7 |
| 1991 | CHC | NL | 149 | 558 | 63 | 159 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 86 | 2 | 32 | 62 | 0.285 | 1089.6 |
| 1992 | CHW | AL | 155 | 627 | 74 | 160 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 112 | 5 | 31 | 97 | 0.255 | 2.0 |
| 1993 | CHW | AL | 102 | 410 | 36 | 89 | 17 | 2 | 13 | 64 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 0.217 | -1611.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 48 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0.271 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | ALCS | TOR | 5 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.200 |
| 1985 | ALCS | TOR | 7 | 28 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.321 |
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
| 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 1992-08-08 |
| 1992 | Player of the Week | Week of 1992-07-04 |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-06-23 |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-06-09 |
| 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
| 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 Career Earnings | $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 |