Kevin Bell

Kevin Robert Bell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• School Mount San Antonio College
• High School Northview High School (Covina)
• Debut June 16, 1976
• Final Game October 3, 1982
• Born July 13, 1955 in Los Angeles, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Third baseman Kevin Bell was a highly touted Chicago White Sox prospect, but his struggles at the plate cut his major league career short.

After being drafted by the Pale Hose, Kevin began his pro career with the Appleton Foxes in 1974, hitting .276 with 15 home runs. He began 1976 with the Iowa Oaks but was called up to the majors as a 20 year-old in June. He made his major league debut against the Baltimore Orioles on June 16th, going 1-for-4 with a triple. Six days later, he hit an inside-the-park grand slam, his first big league homer, off Steve Busby of the Kansas City Royals. Seeing regular time at third for Chicago that summer, he hit .248 with 5 home runs. The White Sox acquired Eric Soderholm to hold down the hot corner before the 1977 season, and as a result, Bell spent most of the next two years back at AAA Iowa. After Soderholm was traded in 1979, Kevin once again got a chance to see regular action for Chicago, and he hit .245 with 4 home runs in 70 games for the club that year. His average dipped to .178 in 1980, and he only hit a skinny home run in 90 games. Following that season, he was released by the Sox. Bell then signed with the San Diego Padres but was dealt to the Oakland Athletics soon thereafter. He returned to the majors as a September call-up with the A's in 1982, going 3-for-9 in the final 4 games of his pro career.

Bell was named to the Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. His father, Donald Bell, was a shortstop in the Cleveland Indians chain from 1948 to 1951.