Five Reds Players Hit Their Last First Home Runs

 

Albert Pujols hit 694 home runs but only one of those was his first.  

On April 6, 2001 a 21-year old Pujols hit a home run off Armando Reynoso in Arizona. He repeaterd the feat 693 times over the last 21 years.  Never again to get the thrill that came from his first one.

Stuart Fairchild hit his first big league home run off Luis Severino at Yankee Stadium in New York.  Mark Kolozsvary hit his first on July 23 at GABP off Jose Fernandez.  Michael Papierski hit his first off Corbin Burnes in Milwuakee onAugust 5. Jose Barrero hit his first in Milwaukee off Hoby Milner on August 6.  He added his second later in the game. Chuckie Robinson hit his first on August 29 off Miles Mikolas in the game that Pujols launched number 694 off his 450th victim Ross Detwiler, who grew up in St. Louis.   Robinson grew up in Danville, Illinois where he followed the career of the Cardinals' Yadier Molina.

The Reds manager, David Bell, has a background in player development as a minor league manager and roving hitting instructor.  He also spent a year in the player development department of the San Francisco Giants.  

"That's a passion of mine, being around the young players," Bell said. "Trying to help them through it, being able to go through the experience with them, to think about where they started.  They dream about playing in the Major Leagues as a little kid and to see it happens, is a success at this level.  It is such a great accomplishment.  Every little step whether its their first hit, first home run, first big play or doing something to win a game, just increases the belief that they belong here. It is fun to be a part of it.  It is the whole development process, where everything matters."

Bell went to the mound after Robinson hit his first home run.  Robinson's mother Dionne was in attendence, the first time she watched her son play in the big leagues.  Ironically, a family from his hometown caught the ball and gave it to his mother.

"My favorite part was standing on the mound with Chuckie.  I started talking to him about the next hitter but I really wanted to talk about his run around the bases.  He really got a big smile on his face talking about his mom.  To be that close to it makes my job so much fun," Bell said. 

The modest Bell, born in Cincinnati.  His grandfather, father and brother played for the Reds.  David managed the Louisville and Carolina teams in the Reds' minor league system.  He was asked to recall his first big league homer.

"It was here I think, Riverfront Stadium," Bell recalled.  "It meant a lot because it was here.  It was off Mark Portugal.  But at the time, I was just trying to survive in the big leagues. So that was like the main thing. I was just happy to hit a home run."

The converstion on Tuesday marked the 27th anniversary of his home run. His two-run home run on August 30, 1995 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals provided the winning margin in a 4-3 win over the Reds.

After the game Bell was on the Star of the Game postgame show with an emotional Joe Nuxhall, who was a teammate of Bell's grandfather, Gus and called games on radio played by David's father, Buddy.

"Oh wow, that I have a very vivid memory of.  I remember where I was standing. It was right outside the clubhouse. Near the clubhouse manager's office."

After the show was off the air, Nuxhall said,"His grandpa would have been so proud," as tears dampened his rugged face. 

Gus Bell died from a heart attack on May 7, 1995, just four days after David broke into the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians.

His late younger brother, Mike, hit the first of his two home runs on September 2, 2000 in a pinch hit appearance.  Mike only played 19 games in the big leagues but made a career in player development for the Arizona Diamondbacks.