Jay Bell: Short Time Mets Infielder (2003) (Who's Legacy Is Scoring the Walk Off Run For Arizona in the 2001 World Series)

Jay Stuart Bell was born on December 11th 1965 in Pensacola Florida. The slim, six foot Jay Bell was an outstanding shortstop prospect getting drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Twins (8th pick overall) in 1984.

A year later he was sent to the Cleveland Indians in a trade for Bert Blyleven. By 1986 he made it to the Indians big league club but there wasn't much room for him with Julio Franco playing short stop & having some big years.

Pirates Career: In 1989 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates& would play there for seven years getting to three straight post seasons (1990-1992) losing each time in the NLCS.

While in Pittsburgh he won the 1993 Gold Glove & made his first All Star Team. He hit a career best .310 that season with 9 HRs 32 doubles 51 RBIs & a .391 on base %.

Bel would lead all NL short stops in fielding twice, put outs three times assists & games played five times each. 

Bell was an excellent hitter in sacrifice situations leading the league twice in that category (1990 & 1991) still holding the Pirates single season record as well. He is second to Arky Vaughn for all time HRs buy a Pirates short stop & ten ahead of the great Honus Wagner.

Post Season: Bell hit HRs in each of his first three NLCS post season series with Pittsburgh. In the 1992 NLCS loss to the Atlanta Braves, he hit safely in five of seven games, with a three run HR off Tom Glavine in Game #6 leading to the 13-4 win forcing a Game Seven.

Royals Career: As his contract year was approaching he was traded to the Kansas City Royals with Jeff King for Joe Randa, Jeff Granger, and Jeff Wallace.

As the era of inflated stats began Bell also saw an increase in his numbers as ell. In 1997 he hit 21 HRs with 28 doubles 92 RBIs and a .291 batting average. After one year in K.C. he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamond Backs.

D-backs Career: Jay would spend five years in Arizona (1998-2002) getting to two post seasons & winning a World Championship (2001). 

In 1999 Jay had a monster year as the club's full time second baseman, making the All Star team & getting votes for the MVP Award.

That year he hit 38 HRs with 32 doubles 112 RBIs batting .289 with a .374 on base % & .931 OPS.

1999 NLDS: He hit .286 with three RBIs in the NLCS loss to the Mets. 

Over the next years, Bell never matched those career numbers again. In the 2001 Arizona Championship season he hit .249 with 13 HRs 24 doubles & 46 RBIs. By this point in his career he was sharing time with Craig Counsel & Junior Spivey. .

2001 Post Season:  Jay saw action in three post season games that year. In the NLDS win over the Cardinals, he was 1-4, then 0-4 in the NLCS win over the Braves.

In the World Series, he saw action in three games & was in the center of action for the most memorable moment in D-backs history. In Game #6 at Arizona, Bell got the start collecting two hits with an RBI in the Diamond Backs 15-2 victory. 

In the 9th inning of the final Game #7, Bell pinch hit for pitcher Randy Johnson, with two men on base. He laid down a bunt to third base, the runner was forced at third but Bell reached first safely.

After Tony Womack doubled  scoring pinch runner Midre Cummings to tie the game, Bell went to third base. 

Then Luis Gonzales hit his famous bloop single off Mariano Rivera into centerfield. Bell came in from third base clapping his hands & jumping into the arms of Matt Williams as he scored the game winning walk off run as the D-backs became World Champions.

He played one more year in Arizona enjoying the Championship reign, then signed on with the New York Mets for 2003, his final season.

Mets Career: In the 2003 Opening Day loss to the Cubs, Bell made his Mets debut grounding out as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning.

On April 4th, he played his first full game collecting two hits in a loss to the Cubs.

On April 23rd, his 8th inning pinch sac fly gave the Mets an insurance run in their 4-2 win over the Astros at Shea. Bell would drive in three runs in 116 at bats that season.

Overall, Bell would see action in 72 games, mostly as a late inning defensive replacement or pinch hitter. He was most versatile on defense, playing at third base (14 games) second base (13 games) shortstop (12 games) & first base (13 games). Bell hit .181, with a double, three RBIs, 22 posting a .319 on base %.

Career Stats: At the end of the season he retired, finishing his 18 year career batting .265 with 1963 hits 195 HRs 394 doubles 67 triples 860 RBIs a .343 on base % & .759 OPS.

Defensively at short stop he posted a career .975 fielding % (44th all time) with 2309 put outs (81st all time) 4595 assists (62nd all time) playing in 1515 games (63rd most all time).

Retirement: Bell would become a long time coach after his playing days. He would bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks under Bob Melvin (2005 & 2006). In 2012 he returned to the Pirates as hitting coach.

He took a few years off to be with his family, then returned to coaching at various minor league levels for a number of MLB teams. He also coached Team USA in the Pan Am Games & was a coach for the New Zealand National Team.

Honors: Yay has a ball field named after him in Arizona.

Family: Jay & his wife  Laura have three children. He is a devout Catholic with a strong belief in his Faith.

BobCat- the Diamondbacks Mascot: Jay & his son Brantley are credited in starting up the idea for the Diamondbacks mascot. On his way to the ballpark one night he realized he forgot his wedding anniversary. He stopped by a mall & picked her up a cat. His son noted the team played at "The BoB" Bank One Ballpark & the cat is a bobcat.