Thursday, September 24, 1998 BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Reds are "in my blood," Buddy Bell says, which is why the Cincinnati native has returned to the organization.
Bell accepted an offer Wednesday to become Reds minor league field coordinator, a job that will allow him to do one of the things he loves most: working with young players. He'll travel from team to team in the Reds' minor-league system, adding the experienced voice of 18 major league seasons and five All-Star appearances to the development of the Reds' top prospects.
"I'm anxious to see the players," said Bell, who will start immediately and visit the Reds' instructional league complex in Sarasota, Fla., next week. "I think I can add something to this organization."
Bell's ties to Cincinnati go back further than his own playing days here, when he hit .266 with 43 home runs and 184 RBI for the Reds from 1985-88. He graduated from Cincinnati's Moeller High, attended Xavier University and Miami University and still lives in Cincinnati. His father, Gus Bell, was a star here from 1951-63.
"I've got it in my blood," Buddy Bell said. "I grew up with it."
Fired by the Detroit Tigers as manager in late August, Bell said it wasn't more than four or five days before Reds General Manager Jim Bowden called and told him there was a spot for him in the Reds organization.
Bell's contract with the Tigers had two more seasons on it when he was fired. He doesn't need the money. He's taking this job because he wants to.
While Bell said he's disappointed things worked out the way they did in Detroit, he doesn't have his heart set on managing again soon.
"Right now, this is what I want to do," Bell said. "I don't need to manage. I'm not obsessed with it."
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