• Bell's father, Jim, was a United States Marine.
  
  Heath's dad would not let him quit baseball. And he was ready to hang it up on a couple different occasions. When the college scholarship offers from Division I schools didn't come, and then when he wasn't drafted out of junior college, Heath was ready to enlist in the Marines.

But every time Heath was ready to join the service, he had a lunch with his father. Jim always talked Heath out of enlisting and continued to push his son to pursue his baseball dreams.

Heath recalled one story his father told him that epitomizes his no-quit mentality.

One day during boot camp, the Marines brought in a marathon runner to provide quite the physical challenge for the cadets.

"[My dad] told himself he would not stop running alongside this marathon guy," Heath said. "He was dying, and guys were falling off left and right by the end of the day. The whole point was for the marathon runner to run and let every cadet basically fall off, and then it was done.

"As a kid, I always said I wanted to be in the big leagues," Bell said. "Lots of people told me, 'What do you really want to do?' But you know, if you have a dream, you'll do everything possible to make it happen. I've had to overcome so many obstacles, it's changed my life a bit."

Bell may eventually find himself in position to become a rich man, but he said he's never been about money. He said he is happy with his wife, three children and house. He is helping one of those children, 3-year-old Jordyn, deal with Down's Syndrome. (Charlie Nobles-MLB.com-4/21/05)

And that might mean saying something outlandish.

Or, flying a remote-control helicopter into the rafters of the roof at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Or, launching water balloons off the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. building at Petco Park.

Or, riding a motorized beer cooler across the outfield grass at Petco.

Or, and this could be the kicker, taking his children to school while riding a motorized chair through the neighborhood.

Heath shared those feelings with his daughter, Jasmine, who then started calling Jim every day. Since the extra push from Heath and Jasmine, Jim's spirit has been on a huge upswing.

"He kind of needed his youngest son and one of his grandkids to turn him around," Heath said. "He's done better ever since my daughter's been calling him. I think he's starting to find a will to live again."

Jim never allowed Heath quit baseball. And now, Heath won't allow his dad to quit on life.

After all, Heath is his father's son.

TRANSACTION REPORT

• Bell thrives in being out there on the mound when the game is on the line. He is that unusual case who has picked up velocity on his pitches as he has gotten older and wiser. He could throw 82-88 mph in high school, went to 88-90 mph in college, then tapered off for a while.
  
  Then in 2000, Bell learned the wonders of the long-toss—a technique whereby pitchers throw long distances to build arm strength —and of working his lower body. The combination has allowed him to elevate his fastball to the 93-98 mph range. He also has an 85-88 mph SLIDER.
  
  In 2005, Heath started spreading his fingers on his CHANGEUP. That led to a resurrection of his SPLIT-FINGER pitch which is now very effective against both left- and righthanded hitters.

"The biggest thing I've learned is to go out and have fun, but then be serious when you have to be serious," Bell said. "Just the way he does it and how he sticks with his routine every day. Don't mix anything up."

In 2009, Heath Bell would enter games to the song, "Blow Me Away" by Breaking Benjamin, which was featured in the video game "Halo 2." The opening of the song doesn't get played because it is too similar to that of the AC/DC's "Hells Bells," to which the iconic Hoffman used to enter.

• July 22, 2001: Heath went on the D.L. with a sore shoulder.
• May 2003: Bell suffered a stress fracture of his right elbow but pitched with it until it was finally detected in August, when he had surgery to correct the problem.