Jim Bello

James A. Bello
(born Bellotti)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
• Born April 3, 1929 in Bronx, NY USA
• Died April 6, 2021 in Broussard, LA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

James Bello played in the minor leagues from 1948 to 1951 and from 1954 to 1955.

He began his career as a 19-year-old in 1948, hitting .276 with 104 hits and two home runs for the Wausau Lumberjacks (85 G, 2 HR, .291 BA) and Mayfield Clothiers (20 G, 0 HR, .213 BA). In 1949, he hit .306 with 156 hits, 35 doubles and six home runs in 124 games for the Independence Yankees. He led the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League in hits, doubles and total bases (219), finished second in at-bats (509, behind Hank Paskiewicz's 512) and tied for third in games played. In 1950, he hit .288 with a career-high 15 home runs for the Lufkin Angels/Leesville Angels (104 G, 15 HR, .299 BA) and Bryan Sports (28 G, 0 HR, .250 BA). With the Lincolnton Cardinals (26 G, 1 HR, .315 BA) and Texas City Texans (23 G, 4 HR, .343 BA) in 1951, he hit a combined .329 with five home runs and a .522 slugging percentage in 49 games. He did not play in 1952 or 1953.

Returning to professional baseball in 1954, Bello hit .301 with 151 hits, 35 doubles and 13 home runs in a year split between the Graceville Oilers (29 G, 5 HR, .366 BA), Lakeland Pilots (18 G, 0 HR, .319 BA) and Crowley Millers (81 G, 8 HR, .270 BA). He also managed Lakeland for part of the year, but was replaced by Rip Sewell. In 1955, his final season, Bello hit .230 with one home run in 18 games for the Odessa Eagles.

Overall, Bello hit .295 with 641 hits in 556 games spread over six seasons.

He also umpired in the minor leagues in the 1950s.

He served in the Korean War.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Playoffs	Notes
1954	Lakeland Pilots	Florida State League	7-11	--	--	replaced by Rip Sewell (64-56) on May 1