Zeke Bella

From BR Bullpen

John Bella Jr.

Bats Right, Throws Left
Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.

Debut September 11, 1957
Final Game September 25, 1959
Born August 23, 1930 in Greenwich, CT USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Playing for the Kansas City Athletics in 1959 Zeke Bella got a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded and two outs to beat Herb Score and the Cleveland Indians on a cold April day.

"Harry Craft was our manager," recalled the former outfielder. "It was his birthday and we had a party after the game. From Cleveland , we flew into Detroit. Once we arrived , the clubhouse guy said to me, 'Harry wants to see you.' I thought he wanted to congratulate me for the big hit I got. Instead he told me they were sending me to Shreveport, LA, because they just bought Tom Carroll."

John "Zeke" Bella grew up in Greenwich, CT, a long fly ball from Yankee Stadium. In 1949 he signed with the Yankees. After having his career interrupted during the Korean Conflict he returned to the Binghamton Triplets in 1955, where he hit .371 to win the Eastern League batting title.

He tried getting to the Bronx via Denver, where he hit .320, .317 and .339 in the American Association from 1956 to 1958. Zeke wore pinstripes late in 1957, collecting one base hit in ten trips.

"The day I got called up it was raining and the game with the Indians was postponed," said Bella. "So we made it up with a day-night doubleheader the next day. The first time I went out to right field, I looked up and said to myself, "This is something."

"Late in the second game Casey Stengel said, 'Hey you with the funny first name, go up and hit.' I faced Ray Narleski and struck out."

Following his playing days, Zeke, who had hit .196 in his 52 game major league career, delivered mail in Cos Cob, an addition to Greenwich, CT and is now retired in an up-scale addition to Palm Beach, FL. He is one of the few players who threw left-handed and hit right-handed ala Rickey Henderson and Cleon Jones.