Cool Papa Bell – The Best I ever Saw
Unquestionably the fastest player in the glory years of the Negro leagues, Cool Papa Bell was also an amazing hitter who batted nearly .325 in his long career. The fleet center fielder starred for the Negro leagues’ greatest teams, with the St. Louis Stars in the 1920s, and the Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords in the 1930s.
In 1937, he played in the Dominican Republic. He spent five seasons in the Mexican League, where he hit a remarkable .437 in 1940 and led the league in just about every offensive category. He finally retired in 1950 after 29 summers in the US and 21 winters in Cuba and Puerto Rico. The following year Bill Veeck sought to bring the veteran player into to American League, but Bell refused the offer.
He was one of the first Negro League stars to be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974.
In developing his lineup, Bell gave particular emphasis to his choices of outfielder Turkey Stearnes and Pitcher Theodore Trent. “Stearnes who played center for the Detroit Wolves, was flat out the greatest player I ever saw. He did everything better than everyone else. Trent died young of tuberculosis, but there was a stretch of six years when no white team could hit him.”
Toughest pitcher? “All pitchers are tough when your timing is off. In general, though, I always preferred facing older men. They knew what they were doing. Younger pitchers are just too wild.”
Homerun History
Cool Papa Bell, playing for Cienfuegos, becomes the first slugger to connect for three home runs in a single game during Cuban professional play. Bell accomplishes his feat at Aida Park during the 15 – 11 slugfest victory over Habana. All three are inside-the-park efforts. Oscar Levis, Cliff Bell and Martin Dihigo surrender the homers.
Bells Ultimate Team
(these are players he played with or against)
Outfield – Turkey Stearnes, Monte Irvin, and Rap Dixon
Around the Horn – Judy Johnson (3b), Willie Wells (SS), Sammy Hughes (2b), Oscar Charleston (1b)
Battery – Theodore Trent (RH), Willie Foster (LH) and Riley Macket (c)
Huge audio treats – Bell dives deep into stories and how the story developed about him being faster than light:
Cool Papa Bell – Hall of Fame Interview
900+ Vintage Broadcasts
All these games are available on Vintage Baseball Reflections.
Youtube Audio Specials:
Vic Scully calls 715
Sandy Koufax
Roy Campanella – Final Ebbets Field Homerun
Jackie Robinson – Hall of Fame Speech
Willie Mays 4 Homerun Game
Previous highlighted players, Ernie Banks, Luke Appling, previous articles – Luis Aparicio, Hank Aaron
and Babe Ruth’s team.
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