Les Bell
Born: 12/14/1901 in Harrisburg, PA, USA
Died: 12/26/1985 in Hershey, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1923-09-17 | Final Game: 1931-09-27
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Lester Rowland Bell
Biography
Les Bell was a professional baseball player born in 1901 who played primarily as an outfielder during his career from 1923 to 1931. Over the course of 896 games, he established himself as a reliable hitter, accumulating 938 hits and achieving a batting average of .290. Known for his power at the plate, Bell hit 66 home runs and drove in 509 runs, making significant contributions to his teams' offenses. His ability to steal bases added another dimension to his game, as he successfully swiped 25 bags throughout his career.
Bell played during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by the transition from the lively ball era to a more competitive landscape with the integration of players and evolving playing styles. His performance in the late 1920s and early 1930s placed him among the notable players of his time, showcasing the skill and determination that defined his approach to the game. With an impressive blend of hitting prowess and base-running ability, Les Bell left a lasting impact on the teams he played for and remains a respected figure in baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.0 | 27.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.400 | 0.444 | 0.844 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 17.0 | 14.0 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.429 | 0.529 | 0.643 | 1.172 |
| 1932 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.231 | 0.231 | 0.231 | 0.462 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 896 | 3239 | 404 | 938 | 184 | 49 | 66 | 509 | 25 | 276 | 322 | 0.290 | 0.346 | 0.438 | 0.784 | 2442.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | STL | NL | 15 | 51 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0.373 | 249.3 |
| 1924 | STL | NL | 17 | 57 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0.246 | -58.6 |
| 1925 | STL | NL | 153 | 586 | 80 | 167 | 29 | 9 | 11 | 88 | 4 | 43 | 47 | 0.285 | -282.8 |
| 1926 | STL | NL | 155 | 581 | 85 | 189 | 33 | 14 | 17 | 100 | 9 | 54 | 62 | 0.325 | 2633.5 |
| 1927 | STL | NL | 115 | 390 | 48 | 101 | 26 | 6 | 9 | 65 | 5 | 34 | 63 | 0.259 | -29.2 |
| 1928 | BSN | NL | 153 | 591 | 58 | 164 | 36 | 7 | 10 | 91 | 1 | 40 | 45 | 0.277 | -229.3 |
| 1929 | BSN | NL | 139 | 483 | 58 | 144 | 23 | 5 | 9 | 72 | 4 | 50 | 42 | 0.298 | 269.5 |
| 1930 | CHC | NL | 74 | 248 | 35 | 69 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 47 | 1 | 24 | 27 | 0.278 | -125.4 |
| 1931 | CHC | NL | 75 | 252 | 30 | 71 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 0 | 19 | 22 | 0.282 | 15.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0.259 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | WS | SLN | 7 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0.259 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 828 | 0 | 814 | 1412 | 144 | 161 |
| SS | 44 | 0 | 99 | 138 | 25 | 25 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | SLN | SS | 15 | 0 | 35 | 53 | 8 | 9 |
| 1924 | SLN | SS | 17 | 0 | 44 | 42 | 9 | 8 |
| 1925 | SLN | 3B | 153 | 0 | 151 | 284 | 36 | 39 |
| 1925 | SLN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1926 | SLN | 3B | 155 | 0 | 165 | 254 | 22 | 25 |
| 1927 | SLN | 3B | 100 | 0 | 85 | 142 | 24 | 13 |
| 1927 | SLN | SS | 10 | 0 | 16 | 41 | 6 | 8 |
| 1928 | BSN | 3B | 153 | 0 | 177 | 314 | 27 | 37 |
| 1929 | BSN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1929 | BSN | 3B | 127 | 0 | 107 | 198 | 15 | 15 |
| 1929 | BSN | SS | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1930 | CHN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1930 | CHN | 3B | 70 | 0 | 63 | 102 | 9 | 14 |
| 1931 | CHN | 3B | 70 | 0 | 66 | 118 | 11 | 18 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 828 |
| Shortstop | 45 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 24.0 | 80 | 0 |