He wasn't just a ballplayer. He was a force of nature that occasionally wore a baseball uniform. If you weren't around Toronto in the mid-80s, it's hard to explain the specific kind of electricity George Bell brought to Exhibition Stadium. He was loud, he was angry, and honestly, he was probably the most feared hitter in the American League for a solid three-year stretch.
But when people talk about the Blue Jays George Bell era today, they usually just look at the back of a baseball card. 47 homers in '87. The MVP trophy. The first Dominican to win it. Those are the facts, sure, but they don't actually tell you what it was like to watch him. They don't capture the time he basically went on strike during spring training because he didn't want to be a designated hitter.
The MVP Year and the San Pedro Connection
1987 was ridiculous. There is no other word for it. Bell hit .308 and drove in 134 runs, which led the league. He had 369 total bases. To put that in perspective, that was a franchise record for home runs (47) that stood until Jose Bautista decided to start launching balls into orbit in 2010.
Bell came out of San Pedro de Macoris, a place that produces shortstops like most towns produce high school teachers. But George was different. He was a powerhouse. He was a Rule 5 draft pick from the Phillies—basically a $25,000 lottery ticket that Pat Gillick found in the bargain bin in 1980.
People forget how close that 1987 team came. They lost the division to Detroit on the very last weekend of the season. Seven straight losses to end the year. Bell went 3-for-27 in that final stretch. If he hits one more homer, or even a couple of doubles, the Blue Jays probably have a ring five years earlier than they actually got one.
That Infamous DH Strike of 1988
You want to know how competitive this guy was?
In 1988, manager Jimy Williams decided George should be the full-time DH to save his knees. George hated it. He didn't just complain to the media; he flat-out refused to play. During a spring training game on March 17, his name was called to bat, and he just stayed in the dugout. Actually, he was reportedly lying on the grass behind the bullpen in his warm-up jacket.
"If they want to win, they’ll play me in the outfield. If they want to lose, they’ll play me at DH."
That’s a real quote. He didn't care about "team chemistry" or "organizational depth." He wanted to play left field.
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The crazy part? On Opening Day in 1988, while still fuming at the front office, he became the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs on Opening Day. He did it off Bret Saberhagen, a Cy Young winner. Talk about a "get off my back" performance. He basically dared the team to bench him after that.
The Outfield That Defined an Era
For a while there, Toronto had the best outfield in baseball. Period. It was Bell in left, Lloyd Moseby in center, and Jesse Barfield in right. The "B-Boys."
- Jesse Barfield: Had a literal cannon for an arm.
- Lloyd Moseby: The glue that held the clubhouse together.
- George Bell: The hammer.
They were young, they were fast, and they played on that rock-hard artificial turf at the Exhibition. It’s probably why George’s knees eventually gave out, but man, they were fun to watch.
Most fans today remember the '92 and '93 World Series teams, but the foundation was laid by Bell’s generation. When he caught the final out to clinch the AL East in 1985—dropping to his knees in shallow left field—it was the first time Toronto actually felt like a baseball town.
Why We Should Remember Him Differently
Honestly, George got a bad rap for being "difficult." He told fans to "kiss his purple butt" when they booed him in '88. He charged the mound against Bruce Kison and tried to karate kick him. He had a legendary temper.
But you've got to understand the context. He was a fierce competitor who felt he had to fight for everything he got. He wasn't a corporate athlete. He was raw.
When he was inducted into the Blue Jays Level of Excellence in 1996, it was a recognition that, despite the brawls and the contract disputes, he was the heartbeat of the franchise's first real golden age.
Key Stats From the Peak Years
- 1985: 28 HR, 95 RBI, Silver Slugger.
- 1986: 31 HR, 108 RBI, .309 AVG.
- 1987: 47 HR, 134 RBI, AL MVP.
He ended up with 202 home runs in a Blue Jays uniform.
What You Can Learn From George Bell's Career
If you’re a student of the game or just a fan looking back, there’s a lot to take away from how Bell handled his career.
First, the Rule 5 draft is a gold mine if you know what you’re looking for. The Jays got an MVP for $25,000. Second, player-manager relations haven't changed that much. The tension between Jimy Williams and Bell is still the blueprint for how NOT to handle a superstar.
Lastly, look at his work with the community today. He’s often back at spring training in Dunedin as a guest instructor. He’s still that same proud guy, but he’s also a mentor for the next generation of Dominican stars like Vladdy Jr.
If you want to dive deeper into this era, go find the footage of the 1985 division clincher. It’s a masterclass in raw emotion. You can also check out the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys—he was inducted there in 2013, and they have some incredible memorabilia from his MVP season.
Take a look at the current Blue Jays roster and ask yourself: who has that George Bell edge? It’s a rare thing. You don't always want it in the clubhouse, but you definitely want it in the batter's box with the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
Actionable Insight: If you're researching the history of the Toronto Blue Jays, start with the 1985 "Drive of '85" season. It provides the essential context for why George Bell's eventual 1987 MVP win was so significant for a city that had spent a decade in the basement of the AL East.