John Bale is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams during his career. He was born on May 22, 1974, in Cheam, England, and grew up in Canada. Bale began his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1996, playing for the GCL Expos and the Vermont Expos. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 1996 MLB draft.
Bale made his MLB debut on September 7, 1999, for the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched in three games for the Blue Jays that season, recording a 1-0 record with a 4.50 ERA. Bale spent the next few seasons bouncing between the minor leagues and the majors, playing for the Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Cincinnati Reds.
In 2004, Bale signed with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League. He played for the Tigers for two seasons, posting a 9-10 record with a 4.06 ERA. Bale returned to the United States in 2006, signing with the Kansas City Royals. He played for the Royals for two seasons, recording a 4-7 record with a 5.57 ERA.
Bale's final season in the majors was in 2009, when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He appeared in 14 games for the Dodgers, recording a 1-2 record with a 5.72 ERA. Bale was released by the Dodgers in August 2009 and did not play in the majors again.
Overall, Bale played in 103 MLB games, recording a 10-16 record with a 5.18 ERA. He also played in 47 games in the Japanese Central League, recording a 9-10 record with a 4.06 ERA. Bale was known for his left-handed pitching and his ability to throw a variety of pitches, including a fastball, curveball, and changeup.
After retiring from baseball, Bale returned to Canada and became a firefighter. He also became involved in coaching youth baseball and worked as a pitching coach for the Canadian Junior National Team. Bale's baseball career may not have been the most successful, but he was able to play at the highest level of the sport and make a living doing what he loved.
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