of the Fall Classic, won by the New York Yankees four games to one, Bell was the eighth overall selection in the primary phase of the National League expansion draft by the New York Mets. New York Mets Bell started the season with the Mets, and on April 11, 1962, he was the starting right fielder in the Mets' inaugural game. He became the first base runner in Met history after hitting a single in the second inning of an 11–4 loss to the Cardinals. But he collected only 15 hits in 101 at bats (.149) in 30 games with the expansion club. Milwaukee Braves On May 21, 1962, Bell was sent to Milwaukee to complete a November 1961 transaction in which the Mets acquired veteran slugger Frank Thomas. He batted .285 in 79 games (with 53 games started as an outfielder) to raise his 1962 season average to .241. But he had only six more MLB at bats as a Brave in 1963–64 until he was released on May 12, 1964, during the roster cutdown then in effect in the major leagues. Post-playing career Bell was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1964. After his playing career, he worked for an auto dealership, ran a temporary employment agency, and was a scout for the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. Bell died in May 1995, at Bethesda North Hospital near Cincinnati; he had recently had a heart attack. He was survived by seven children and 36 grandchildren. On what would have been Bell's 83rd birthday – November 15, 2011 – he was inducted into the Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame, with a speech by his grandson David. See also List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders List of second-generation Major League Baseball players References External links Gus Bell at The Deadball Era Gus Bell Chronology and Facts at This Day In Baseball 1928 births 1995 deaths Albany Senators players American Roman Catholics Baseball players from Louisville, Kentucky Cincinnati Redlegs players Cincinnati Reds players Cleveland Indians scouts Hollywood Stars players Indianapolis Indians players Keokuk Pirates players Leesburg Pirates players Major League Baseball center fielders Major League Baseball right fielders Milwaukee Braves players National League All-Stars New York Mets players Pittsburgh Pirates players Texas Rangers scouts