Major League Baseball umpire Wally Bell has passed away at the young age of 48, from a heart attack. FOX News reported that:
Bell had not been feeling well over the weekend and had been scheduled to see doctors later Monday at the Cleveland Clinic. Bell had quintuple bypass surgery on Feb. 18, 1999, that left him with an 8-inch scar down the middle of his chest. His father survived two heart attacks before he died.
So sad to hear about the passing of Wally Bell. Thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. He will be missed.
— AJ Griffin (@griffin_64) October 15, 2013
According to the NY Daily News, his last game was the NL playoff series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals that ended last week. The news source also reported:
The commissioner’s office confirmed Bell’s death Monday. He died of an apparent heart attack in his home state of Ohio. “All of us at Major League Baseball are in mourning tonight regarding the sudden passing of Wally Bell,” Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. “I always enjoyed seeing Wally, who was a terrific umpire and such an impressive young man. On behalf of our 30 clubs, I extend my deepest condolences to Wally’s family, fellow umpires and his many friends throughout the game.”
Apparently, Bell was the first active MLB umpire to pass away since John McSherry died of a heart attack on the field in Cincinnati on Opening Day in 1996.
Wally Bell worked the famous DH in Philly 7-2-93. He was 1B ump for the 2nd game that ended at 4:40 am by @WildThingMLBN , latest Gm MLB hst
— Edward J. Casey (@achs_fred) October 15, 2013