Gus Bell
Born: 11/15/1928 in Louisville, KY, USA
Died: 5/7/1995 in Montgomery, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-05-30 | Final Game: 1964-05-01
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: David Russell Bell
Biography
Gus Bell was a prominent American baseball player known for his impactful career as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1964. Born in 1928, Bell made his mark in an era characterized by a transition from the post-war years into the dynamic and competitive landscape of the 1960s. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,741 games, amassing 1,823 hits and demonstrating consistent offensive prowess with a batting average of .281. His power at the plate was evident with 206 home runs and 942 RBIs, making him a significant contributor to his teams' lineups.
Bell was selected as an All-Star four times, underscoring his recognition among peers and fans alike for his skills in the outfield and at the plate. In addition to his offensive contributions, he showcased speed on the bases, recording 30 stolen bases throughout his career. Known for his versatility and ability to perform in clutch situations, Bell left a lasting legacy in the game, remembered not only for his statistics but also for his passion and dedication to baseball during a transformative period in the sportโs history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1741 | 6478 | 865 | 1823 | 311 | 66 | 206 | 942 | 30 | 470 | 636 | 0.281 | 0.330 | 0.445 | 0.775 | 8057.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PIT | NL | 111 | 422 | 62 | 119 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 53 | 4 | 28 | 46 | 0.282 | 134.1 |
| 1951 | PIT | NL | 149 | 600 | 80 | 167 | 27 | 12 | 16 | 89 | 1 | 42 | 41 | 0.278 | 627.8 |
| 1952 | PIT | NL | 131 | 468 | 53 | 117 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 59 | 1 | 36 | 72 | 0.250 | 202.6 |
| 1953 | CIN | NL | 151 | 610 | 102 | 183 | 37 | 5 | 30 | 105 | 0 | 48 | 72 | 0.300 | 2308.2 |
| 1954 | CIN | NL | 153 | 619 | 104 | 185 | 38 | 7 | 17 | 101 | 5 | 48 | 58 | 0.299 | 1420.5 |
| 1955 | CIN | NL | 154 | 610 | 88 | 188 | 30 | 6 | 27 | 104 | 4 | 54 | 57 | 0.308 | 2355.2 |
| 1956 | CIN | NL | 150 | 603 | 82 | 176 | 31 | 4 | 29 | 84 | 6 | 50 | 66 | 0.292 | 1903.0 |
| 1957 | CIN | NL | 121 | 510 | 65 | 149 | 20 | 3 | 13 | 61 | 0 | 30 | 54 | 0.292 | 410.1 |
| 1958 | CIN | NL | 112 | 385 | 42 | 97 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 46 | 2 | 36 | 40 | 0.252 | -278.2 |
| 1959 | CIN | NL | 148 | 580 | 59 | 170 | 27 | 2 | 19 | 115 | 2 | 29 | 44 | 0.293 | 676.0 |
| 1960 | CIN | NL | 143 | 515 | 65 | 135 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 62 | 4 | 29 | 40 | 0.262 | -490.8 |
| 1961 | CIN | NL | 103 | 235 | 27 | 60 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 18 | 21 | 0.255 | -621.4 |
| 1962 | ATL | NL | 79 | 214 | 28 | 61 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 0.285 | 131.5 |
| 1962 | NYN | NL | 30 | 101 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0.149 | 131.5 |
| 1963 | ATL | NL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1964 | ATL | NL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | WS | CIN | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1642 | 1066 | 3500 | 133 | 54 | 28 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PIT | OF | 104 | 0 | 203 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| 1951 | PIT | OF | 145 | 0 | 267 | 18 | 4 | 4 |
| 1952 | PIT | OF | 123 | 0 | 202 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 1953 | CIN | OF | 151 | 0 | 447 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 1954 | CIN | OF | 153 | 152 | 406 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| 1955 | CIN | OF | 154 | 154 | 364 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 1956 | CIN | OF | 149 | 149 | 330 | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| 1957 | CIN | OF | 121 | 120 | 311 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| 1958 | CIN | OF | 107 | 101 | 235 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 1959 | CIN | OF | 145 | 137 | 269 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | CIN | OF | 131 | 122 | 239 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 1961 | CIN | OF | 75 | 54 | 112 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | ML1 | OF | 58 | 53 | 75 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | NYN | OF | 26 | 24 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 161 |
| Center Field | 815 |
| Right Field | 684 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |