Overview
Clayton Daniel Bellinger (born November 18, 1968) is a former Major League Baseball player. He played in MLB for the New York Yankees and the Anaheim Angels, winning the World Series twice as a member of the Yankees.
He also was on the 2002 Anaheim Angels team, but did not receive a championship ring.
His son, Cody, was the 2019 National League MVP and won the 2020 World Series.
Early life
A native of Oneonta, New York, Bellinger played shortstop for Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.
Career
Bellinger was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round (44th overall pick) in the 1989 draft. His first 10 seasons of professional baseball were spent in the minor leagues, six in Triple-A. Before his first call-up as a 30-year-old in 1999, he played more than 1,000 minor league games. Bellinger played for the New York Yankees in , , and . He played every position (including designated hitter) except for catcher and pitcher.
In the ninth inning of Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, Bellinger was inserted in left field in place of David Justice. Bellinger scaled the wall to rob the Mets' Todd Zeile of a two-run home run and preserve a victory for the Yankees. The Yankees released him when he became eligible for arbitration; Bellinger then signed with the Anaheim Angels. He played two games at first base for the Angels in , had one at-bat in which he struck out, and was eventually demoted to the minor leagues.
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