Books and articles about Gary Bell

Bell used a blazing fastball to win 28 games in his first two ML seasons. He later learned to control his curve and developed a slider. In nine years at Cleveland he went through seven managers, who shifted him back and forth between starting and relieving. In 1962 he led the AL with nine relief victories, but he hated relieving, calling it a "rotten, thankless job." Starters received more money and prestige, and the wisecracking Bell preferred four days off to joke around on the bench. After saving 17 in 1965, he returned to starting and won 14 in 1966. Traded to the Red Sox early in 1967, he won 12 during their pennant drive. He had a loss and a save in the WS.

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"Ding Dong" was drafted by the expansion Pilots in 1969 and won Seattle's home opener. As author Jim Bouton's roommate, he was prominently mentioned in Ball Four. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 15, 1959: Cleveland, behind the pitching of Gary Bell, beats the Red Sox, 5–1, to move into 1st place in the A.L. » July 16, 1959: After beating the Indians, yesterday, the Yanks sweep a doubleheader today to knock the Tribe out of first. New York wins the opener when Berra ties the game in the 9th with a homer, and Mickey Mantle wins it, 7–5, in the 10th with a 2-run shot off Gary Bell. Bobby Shantz wins the nitecap, 4–0. New York is five 1/2 games out of first. » August 26, 1959: The Indians stretch their winning streak to eight games when Colavito snaps a 4–4 tie with an 8th inning home run. Jim Perry, in relief of Gary Bell, picks up the win, 5–4, over New York. » April 19, 1960: Opening Day in Cleveland takes on added drama as Rocky Colavito makes his debut with the Tigers. He is hitless in six ABs and strikes out four times. Detroit's Frank Lary and Cleveland's Gary Bell each pitch 10 shutout innings. The Tigers score twice in the 11th, but Jim Piersall's 2-run single off Jim Bunning ties the game. In the 15th, as the major-league record for the longest Opening Day game is tied, Al Kaline's 2-run single gives Detroit a 4–2 win. » July 20, 1960: At Municipal Stadium, with Cleveland in the lead 8–2, Mickey Mantle golfs a Gary Bell pitch over the auxiliary scoreboard into the distant upper deck in RF, matching Luke Easter as the only players to reach that spot. Cleveland holds on for an 8–6 win. » September 8, 1961: The Yanks rout the Indians 9–1 as Mickey Mantle hits #52, off Gary Bell. The Yanks win for their 9th straight while Detroit loses their 8th in a row to drop 10 game in back. The Tigers purchase vet Vic Wertz from the Red Sox to shore up the offense. » April 21, 1967: At Fenway, rookie Bill Rohr again tops the Yanks, beating Mel Stottlemyre, 6–1. Elston Howard's 7th-inning homer is the only Yankee score. Rohr will return to the minors after the Gary Bell acquisition and resurface with the Indians next year. » June 3, 1967: Boston P Dennis Bennett wins 6–2, beating Cleveland's Gary Bell. » June 4, 1967: Cleveland sends Gary Bell to Boston for OF Don Demeter and 1B Tony Horton. Bell, a 16-game winner last year, is 1–5 in 1967, but he'll win 12 games for Boston during their pennant drive. » June 8, 1967: Gary Bell wins his Red Sox debut, 7–3 to give Boston a doubleheader split with the White Sox. Carl Yastrzemski had six hits for the day. Yaz, of whom Chicago manager Eddie Stanky said two days earlier, "he made be an All-Star, I suppose, but only from the neck down," hit his 12th home run. As he rounded the bases, Yaz tipped his cap to Stanky. » September 21, 1967: Gary Bell beats his old team Cleveland to give Boston a 6–5 win. » October 7, 1967: In game three St. Louis, Nelson Briles swings the World Series toward the Cards with a 7-hit 5–2 win. Lou Brock has two more hits, and Mike Shannon homers off loser Gary Bell. » October 15, 1968: Roger Nelson is the initial choice of the Royals in the American League expansion draft. Don Mincher is the Pilots' first choice. Other Seattle selections include Tommy Harper, Tommy Davis, Gary Bell, and Lou Piniella. Kansas City chooses Wally Bunker, Moe Drabowsky, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Joe Foy. » April 11, 1969: Before 14,993, Seattle successfully inaugurates ML baseball at Sicks Stadium, as Gary Bell defeats Chicago 7–0. The Pilots will draw just 678,000 for the season. » June 8, 1969: The White Sox trade P Bob Locker to the Pilots for P Gary Bell. Bell has rung up his best games, and he will prove a disaster in Chicago.