The Bells take their name from the original Bellingham Bells who played at Battersby Field off and on from the 1930s to 1988. The original Bells came to prominence under the leadership of Joe Martin (the namesake of the ballpark of the current incarnation of the Bells), who helped lead the Bells to 20 National Baseball Congress Washington State titles and multiple top five finishes at the NBC World Series during the height of their semi-pro prominence from 1946 to 1972, when the Bellingham Dodgers brought minor league baseball to Bellingham. The original Bells played in leagues with the Alaska Goldpanners, Humboldt Crabs, Grand Junction Eagles, Anchorage Glacier Pilots, and Wichita Service Auto Glass.
