Bell's collection room has more in common with a museum than a man cave, and the Smokies hold major real estate on the walls of his Oak Ridge home.
Collecting memorabilia is not about the items you have, Oak Ridger Don Bell said. It's about the ones you are looking for.
But more often than not, he said, "You don't even know what you're looking for" until you find it − a rare card, an autographed baseball or a championship pennant.
Bell's personal collection room has more in common with a museum than a man cave, and the Knoxville Smokies hold major real estate on the walls and shelves of his Oak Ridge home.
With 55 years of meticulous curation, Bell estimates somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 pieces make up his vast collection, which includes Smokies memorabilia and a whole lot more.
Love for Smokies baseball began with ... Michael Jordan?
It is not often visitors get more applause than the home team. But when Michael Jordan came to East Tennessee to try his hand at baseball with the Birmingham Barons, Bell was there in the stands cheering.
Bell had attended minor league games in the past but wasn't a regular until the cross-sport spectacle displayed by Jordan planted a seed, marking the start of his deep and enduring passion for Smokies baseball.
His path to becoming a fixture at Smokies games is about as unconventional as his path to working in media.
Already a Smokies fan, collector covers team in media role
After his father died in 2006, Bell formed a friendship − bonded by a shared love for Kentucky Fried Chicken − with the late Davd C. "Tank" Johnson, sports editor of The Oak Ridger at the time.
It wasn't long before Bell was reporting on local Oak Ridge players who had gone on to have successful collegiate and professional careers. He covered the Smokies when the team was playing at the stadium in Kodak, which Bell already visited as a fan.
The Smokies moved from Knoxville to Sevier County following the 1999 season and played in Kodak until Covenant Health Park opened in downtown Knoxville for the first home game April 15.
Bell's attendance in Kodak was consistent as he watched the trees grow behind the stadium over the years, creating what he described as a secluded sanctuary of baseball.
This passion for baseball continues today, aligning with his lifelong habit of collecting.
Bell picked up the habit from his dad, collecting coins as a child before he began acquiring Elvis Presley memorabilia as a nod to his parents' Mississippi roots.
But of all the items he collects, it's sports memorabilia that is of the upmost importance to Bell. In particular, it's anything and everything Smokies baseball.
'I got a few pieces': How team learned of Knoxville Smokies collection
It took Smokies President and COO Chris Allen one look to recognize the magnitude of Bell's collection.
"I was like, what do you mean some stuff?" Allen recalled once asking Bell in the press box. "He said, 'I got a few pieces.'"
Allen, who used to own an antiques store with his wife, visited Bell’s house to see the collection for himself and has been gifted some of Bell's finds − vintage Smokies pennants and an Oakland Athletics bobblehead, to name a few.
Allen refers to Bell's residence as a collector's paradise that only a single man could have. The two have maintained a relationship for years thanks to Bell's upbeat attitude and his work in media, including his current gig with Anderson County TV.
"He's one of those guys that kind of lights up the room when he walks in," Allen said. "He's always got a fun story. We love having him around."
Away from the park, Bell's life is steeped in his hometown roots. After retiring from his role as maintenance supervisor in 2014, he was elected that same year to the Anderson County Board of Education. He is serving his third term and plans to run for a fourth.
Don Bell exemplifies Smokies slogan: 'America's Friendliest Ballpark'
To repay Bell for his dedication to the team, the Smokies helped produce his new book, "Life Stories from a Secret City Kid." The book is a compilation of local newspaper articles, national articles and some of Bell’s own writings about Oak Ridge.
This blending of local heritage, community participation and storytelling is what defines Bell. Allen considers the Oak Ridge native to be the ideal fan for his positivity and love for the Smokies gameday experience.
"We really take America's Friendliest Ballpark to heart," Allen said about the Smokies slogan, and Bell is an outstanding example of the team's neighborly spirit.
The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith contributed to this story.
Knox News reporter Gabriel Jackson covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC. Email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies baseball collection features classic team memorabilia
Category: General Sports
