The Story of Charging the Mound, Episode 4: George Bell

George Bell’s Story: A Glimpse into the Past

Episode 3 of this series starts a two-part exploration of the June 23, 1985 encounter between Toronto’s George Bell and Boston’s Bruce Kisson. Having looked at Kisson’s side, it’s now time to delve into the life of George Bell.

Back in the late 1970s, major league scouts began flocking to the Dominican Republic. This region quickly became a goldmine for talent. The DR was filled with young, skilled baseball players who were, unfortunately, at risk due to the country’s poor economic conditions.

With unemployment hovering around 40%, teams realized they could sign these players for far less than the typical American prospects. Even when Dominican players made it onto a major league team, they were often sent to states where they faced isolation due to language barriers and had to rely on agents who sometimes had less-than-honest intentions.

The harsh reality for George Bell, one of those Dominican players, was that he was often met with suspicion as he navigated through this exploitative landscape. American players frequently found reasons to critique him. They said his English wasn’t good enough, that he lacked certain skills, or that he simply wasn’t playing the game the right way.

In 1982, while playing for Syracuse in the minor leagues, Bell faced off against Lynn McGlothen, a seasoned veteran with 11 years in the majors, who was now pitching in AAA. Bell had a lot riding on this game—hoping for one last shot at a call-up. Years prior, McGlothen had been part of a game where he hit a New York Mets player intentionally; the Mets’ Dave Kingman had charged the mound in response.

McGlothen had a reputation for not holding back when it came to throwing at batters, and he seemed to harbor a grudge against Bell for the same superficial reasons others did. Bell was labeled a show-off. In a moment of aggression, McGlothen struck Bell, fracturing his cheek and jaw. As Bell’s teammates rushed to retaliate, he feared that his baseball career—and his hope for a better future—had come to an end.

Bell’s thoughts turned dark regarding McGlothen: “He’s dead,” he imagined, not because he would harm him, but because he believed fate would eventually catch up with him.

Two years later, McGlothen perished in a fire, along with a friend, while others managed to escape. After making a full recovery and on the cusp of making it to the majors, Bell later spoke about this tragedy. He offered condolences, reflecting on McGlothen’s fate with, “Those people decide. They have bad hearts. They cannot continue living.”

Some might consider those words insensitive or cruel, and, well, that’s understandable. However, it’s tough to fully grasp Bell’s reality—where a little arrogance on the field could lead to a fractured face or the shattering of dreams.