[Terry D]

Originally Posted by Merkle923

By request.

Bell was enough a prospect that after being chosen seventh overall in the old January draft, he was promoted to become the starting 3rd Baseman of the White Sox in the middle of the 1976 season. But his good prep and minor league numbers proved to be almost exclusively against lefty pitchers (he hit .319 versus them as a rookie, .201 versus righties, and was .259/.198 lifetime).

It probably explains why he only spent one full season in Chicago (1980) and in it hit .178. The Sox released him that winter, he signed with the Padres and was then dealt to the A's in Spring Training. After two unpromising seasons in the PCL they brought him for a three-game cameo in September, 1982, where he eluded most photographers. Doug McWilliams got him in Oakland and it turns out Brace got him at Comiskey.

ADDED: Came across this shot I took of Bell shortly after his recall by the ChiSox. The remodeled Yankee Stadium was new, he was a rookie, the old-timey uniform set was new, and I was 17! On the other hand the base looks like it was used by Tinker, Evers and Chance.

That's a super shot of Kevin Bell in 82, thanks. And thanks as well for Rodney Scott with the Yanks.