Zeke Bella
| Zeke Bella | |
|---|---|
Kansas City Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .196 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 9 |
| Teams | |
| |
John "Zeke" Bella (August 22, 1930 – November 17, 2013) was an American
Kansas City Athletics in 1959
.
Early life
Zeke Bella was born August 22, 1930,[1] in Greenwich, Connecticut.[2] Bella graduated from Greenwich High School in 1947 where he was called "[a] superlative athlete"; playing both football and baseball.[2][3]
MLB career
Bella began his professional career with the Class C
fram team
, in 1951. He was among the relatively few position players who batted right-handed and threw left-handed, and was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg).
After two years' service in the
Denver Bears
, the Yankees' top minor league affiliate.
Bella began his major league career on September 11, 1957, with the Yankees, playing in five
Cleveland Indians.[6]
He retired from baseball after the 1960 minor-league season.
Over his 52-game
MLB career, Bella had 18 hits in 92 at-bats, with a .196 batting average.[7]
Awards and honors
Bella was inducted into the Greenwich High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[8]
Death
Zeke Bella died on November 17, 2013, from complications due to a stroke, and the injuries received from a fall it induced; Bella was aged 83 years when he succumbed.[3]
References
- ^ Gustafson, Colin (August 22, 2010). Ex-Yankee Bella celebrates 80th in Greenwich. greenwichtime.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b Schott, Paul (November 17, 2013). Former New York Yankee John ‘Zeke’ Bella passes away at 83. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Schott, Paul (November 18, 2013). A Connecticut Yankee: Remembering Greenwich High School Hall of Famer and former Bronx Bomber John "Zeke" Bella. newstimes.com. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
- ^ John "Zeke" Bella obituary, Legacy.com
- ^ Zeke Bella Stats. baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ Retrosheet box score: 08-13-1959
- ^ Zeke Bella. baseball-reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ Adams, Rob (October 17, 2013). NFL Hall of Famer Young, along with Merz and Bella to be honored Sunday by Greenwich High. greenwich-post.com. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Zeke Bella Stats. baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.