Sportsmanship in Black: James "Cool Papa" Bell

James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell was born May 17, 1903 in Starkville, Miss.  Although he played for almost a dozen Negro League teams in his career, he is best known for his 10 seasons with the St. Louis Stars of the Negro National League.  Bell began his career in 1922 as a pitcher.  He struck out fellow Negro league star Oscar Charleston and was given the nickname "Cool" by his teammates.  The Stars' manager added "Papa" and the nickname stuck.  As a lifelong baseball fan, I've noticed that most of the all-time great players have a memorable nickname.  Think about it.  You have "Joltin' Joe," "The Say Hey Kid,", "Pops," Stan "The Man," and of course "The Babe."  Heck, Ted Williams was so good I think he has five or six nicknames.

Bell started as a pitcher, but the Stars soon recognized his talents were needed on the field everyday.  He became the team's full-time center fielder in 1924.  Widely regarded as "the fastest man in the league," Bell was once recorded as having rounded the bases in 12 seconds.  He ranked in the top five in stolen bases nine times.  Many tales exist in reference to Bell's speed.  Legend has it that he scored from second on a sacrifice fly, scored from first on a sacrifice bunt, and was called out because he was hit by his own batted ball while sliding into second.  Whether or not any of the stories are true is certainly up for debate.

What is not for debate is the indelible mark left on the game by Bell and his contemporaries.  He helped pave the way for future stars such as Jackie Robinson and Ernie Banks.  Bell was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.  Dickson Street, where Bell lived in St. Louis, was renamed James "Cool Papa" Bell Avenue in 1991.  A man has to be some type of star to get a street named after him.  James "Cool Papa" Bell wasn't just any type of star.  He was a St. Louis Star.  Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol