- Following his 1987 AL MVP season, George Bell was blindsided when the Blue Jays attempted to move him from left field to designated hitter for the 1988 campaign.
- Bell viewed the decision as a personal insult and a betrayal, leading to a tense spring training that resulted in a suspension after he refused to take the field as a DH.
- Fueled by his frustration, Bell delivered a legendary performance on Opening Day 1988, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in a season opener.
- The historic outburst effectively ended the experiment, as the team returned Bell to left field for the remainder of the series and the majority of the season.
- Reflecting on the saga years later, former GM Pat Gillick admitted that attempting to move the star outfielder out of his defensive position was a mistake.
Read the full story here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/i-was-pissed-why-move-to-dh-fuelled-bells-historic-opening-day-for-blue-jays/
