MLB: Jay Bell’s determination leads to Hall of Fame ballot

Szymborski is now writing under the name Gilbert? How’d he manage that?

Jay Bell never thought he would play 18 seasons in the big leagues.

“I made the Indians out of Spring Training in 1988 and I finished with a career high to that point of .218,” Bell said. “I remember thinking at that point that I didn’t know if I was going to be a good Major League player, but potentially I could be a good coach.”

Instead, he finds himself on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time.

...“I really believe the reason that I have my name on the ballot is because I was a good support player,” the ever-modest Bell said. “I wasn’t ‘the guy.’ I was thrust in that position a couple of times in my career, but I was at my best when I had great players around me. I’m in the position I’m in today because of those guys and what they did for me.”