Why does Josh Bell's locker feature a baseball decorated like Wilson from 'Cast Away'?
Hitting the ball clear out of PNC Park and into the Allegheny River beyond is no easy feat. Only five homers have done so since the stadium opened in 2001, and two of those came off the bat of Pirates first baseman Josh Bell, each traveling more than 450 feet.
That's the kind of thing you'd want to commemorate. It turns out that Bell has done just that -- and he's even taken the effort to paint one to reflect its time floating in the open water.
Can we appreciate the fact that Josh Bell painted one of the balls that he launched into the Allegheny like Wilson from Castaway? 😂 pic.twitter.com/7IIZGIYnt2
— Steve Rickard (@RickardRant) July 2, 2019
We have a lot of questions. Did it wash up on the banks of the river with a bunch of other stuff? Does Bell talk to this ball when he's alone in the clubhouse? Is it named Wilson or does it have another name? Is it decorated with blood, or is that just red paint?
It's good to see that Bell has found himself such a worthy companion. Let's just hope that it doesn't roll or float away when he's on the field or a road trip.
Eric Chesterton is a writer for MLB.com. He is an appreciator of the stolen base, the bunt against the shift and nearly every unconventional uniform design. He eagerly awaits Jamie Moyer's inevitable comeback.
