Who am I? July 26 edition

[dukecrunchybagel]

I was a regular in the Crosley Field outfield for nine years including three all star game appearances.

One interesting fact which is not widely known is that I was a bright spot on the very first New York Mets game (appropriately enough a 11-4 Loss) as the opening day right fielder, delivering a 1/3 performance and gunning down three Cardinals from the outfield. I batted fifth just before the player I was traded for (yes you read that right) thanks to be later named the infamous PTBNL, who was a Reds teammate and starter in the outfield with me for a year.

The slash line for my Mets career was .149/.221/.198.

Who am I?

[schellis]

Gus Bell

[Lark11]

Actually, that seems like a reasonable guess from schellis. I don't have a better one.

[dukecrunchybagel]

Yes indeed. Bell the first Red grabbed by the Mets in the 1962 expansion draft, regular phase, and was their opening day rightfielder. He batted fifth in the Cardinals 11-4 shellacking of the brand new franchise, going 1 for 3 and drawing a walk from Larry Jackson while nailing Bill White at home plate, Stan the Man Musial at second base, and Minnie Minoso at second base.

Batting cleanup before Bell has slugging left fielder Frank Thomas who was Bell's teammate on the 1959 club, coming over in the Harvey Haddix/Smokey Burgess/Dan Hoak swindle by the Pirates and then being dealt a year later for Reds bullpen mainstay Bill Henry and a couple of other duds. Thomas came to the Mets on a November 28 deal with the Braves with a PTBNL for a PTBNL and cash. The Mets sent Bell to the Braves for 1B RIck Herrscher to complete the trade on May 21, so hence Bell played with Thomas the guy for whom he was traded. Bell's career was a Met lasted about six miserable weeks, and he had a decent enough run for the Braves to conclude where he wrapped up his pro ball career.

The Bells, of course, had three generations play for the Reds-- all star Buddy Bell played for the Reds near the end of his career, and Gus's grandson Mike Bell had a cup of coffee for the 2000 squad.

[dukecrunchybagel]

And of course now our manager David Bell, Buddy's other grandson.