Soccer
Farke tells Leeds he's 'not the right choice' if his ambition is not matched
Daniel Farke says he's not the right choice for Leeds if ambitions don't match.
Sky Sports1 min read
Sports
THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 4: GEORGE BELL
TL;DR
Episode 4 explores George Bell's experiences as a Dominican player in MLB, highlighting the exploitation of young talent from the Dominican Republic during the late 1970s. It contrasts Bell's struggles with the perceptions of American players.
Key points
- George Bell's experiences as a Dominican player in MLB
- Exploitation of young talent from the Dominican Republic
- Economic conditions in the DR led to MLB scouting
- Social isolation and language barriers faced by players
- Suspicion and criticism from American players
George BellToronto Blue JaysBoston Red Sox
In episode three of this series, I began a two-part exploration of the encounter between Toronto’s George Bell and Boston’s Bruce Kison on June 23rd, 1985. Having visited Kison side of things, we will now consider the life and times of George Bell.
In the late 1970s scouts all around major league baseball began descending upon the Dominican Republic, which had suddenly been identified as highly lucrative territory. The DR was home to countless talented young ball players and those ball players due to the country’s dire economic conditions were highly exploitable.
With the unemployment rate around 40% teams realized they could sign players for a lot less than American prospects asked for. And if those Dominican players did happen to get signed by a major league team, they were sent to the states socially isolated by the language barrier and dependent upon agents who were often crooked and looking to swindle ’em all over again.
A cruel irony recalled by George Bell, one of those young Dominican players, was that while navigating this labyrinth of shameless exploitation, he was the one looked at with suspicion. American players found any reason they could to dislike him. His English wasn’t polished enough, he was too this, not enough that, didn’t play the game the right way.
In 1982, while playing for minor league Syracuse, Bell stepped in against Lynn McGlothen, an 11 year Major League vet pitching in AAA ball in the hopes of one last call up. In a game years earlier while pitching for the Cardinals, McGlothen beamed one New York Mets batter then brushed back another three innings later, then hit that batter too. The intent was so transparently clear that the Mets Dave Kingman charged the mound straight from the dugout.
McGlothen did not hesitate to throw at a batter if he had the inclination and he seemed to resent George Bell for the same superficial reasons everybody else did. Bell was a hotdogger. It was decided. McGlothen drilled him in the face, fracturing his cheek and jawbones. While his teammates stormed the field to exact revenge, Bell arrived on the ground certain that his career in baseball, his one chance at a better life was over.
Q&A
What were the challenges faced by George Bell as a Dominican player in MLB?
George Bell faced exploitation due to economic conditions in the Dominican Republic and social isolation in the U.S., compounded by language barriers and suspicion from American players.
How did the economic situation in the Dominican Republic affect MLB scouting in the late 1970s?
The high unemployment rate in the Dominican Republic led MLB teams to scout for talented players who could be signed for less than American prospects, resulting in widespread exploitation.
What incident involving George Bell and Bruce Kison occurred on June 23, 1985?
The article references a notable encounter between George Bell and Bruce Kison, which is explored in detail in the previous episode of the series.
How did American players perceive George Bell during his career?
American players often viewed George Bell with suspicion, criticizing his English skills and playing style, which contributed to his challenges in the league.