Cool Papa Bell

James Thomas “Cool Papa” Bell (May 17, 1903 - March 7, 1991) is considered by many to be one of the fastest players to ever play the game. Hall of Fame pitcher Satchell Paige and teammate once quipped Bell “… was so fast, he could turn off the light and be under the covers before the room got dark.” Despite the fact the no accurate records of statistics exist for “Cool Papa” Bell, was a legendary figure in baseball. Bell played his entire career in the Negro Leagues, most notably with the St. Louis Stars, Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords. Working with the Kansas City Monarchs during the 1940s, “Cool Papa” helped mentor and guide many future Hall of Famers including Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Elston Howard and others. The Negro League Committee elected James Thomas “Cool Papa” Bell to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.