Zeke Bella
| Zeke Bella | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Outfielder | |||
|
Born: August 22, 1930 Greenwich, Connecticut | |||
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Died: November 17, 2013 (aged 83) Greenwich, Connecticut | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| September 11, 1957, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 25, 1959, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .196 | ||
| Runs batted in | 9 | ||
| Teams | |||
| |||
John "Zeke" Bella (August 22, 1930 – November 17, 2013) was a Major League Baseball outfielder; playing for the New York Yankees in 1957 and the 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 Amsterdam Rugmakers in 1951. After two years off, he spent 1954 and 1955 with the Binghamton Triplets, then played from 1956 to 1958 with the Denver Bears, the Yankees' top minor league affiliate. Bella began his major league career on September 11, 1957, with the Yankees.[4] He played in five games for the Yankees that season. After spending 1958 with the Bears, he played in 47 games for the Kansas City Athletics in 1959. In 52 career games, Bella had 18 hits in 92 at-bats, with a .196 batting average. He batted right and threw left-handed. Bella played his last game in the major leagues on September 25, 1959.[5]
Awards and honors
Bella was inducted into the Greenwich High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[6]
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 to his death.[3]
References
- ↑ Gustafson, Colin (August 22, 2010). Ex-Yankee Bella celebrates 80th in Greenwich. greenwichtime.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- 1 2 Schott, Paul (November 17, 2013). Former New York Yankee John ‘Zeke’ Bella passes away at 83. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ Zeke Bella Stats. baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ 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.