Tales of Cool Papa Bell’s speed are so incredible, it is hard to separate fact from legend.
Interestingly, the legendary Negro Leagues speedster began his career as a knuckleball pitcher, earning the nickname ‘Cool’ when he struck out the great Oscar Charleston. He added Papa to the sobriquet because he thought it sounded better. Bell would occasionally play in the outfield when he was not on the mound, but only really began his transition to a position player in the middle of the 1920s.
Bell quickly became known for his daring on the basepaths and his speed. It was said that he could turn off the lights, and be in bed before the room was dark. As he was known to go from first to third on a bunt, and stole two bases on a single pitch at least three times, it is easy to see where these tales came from. After all, the great baseball wit Satchel Paige once said that Bell whistled a line drive past his ear, and was hit by his own shot as he slid into second.
A line drive hitter who was capable of sending the ball to all fields, Bell was a threat for an inside the park homer any time up. He was not a power hitter in the traditional sense, but his ability to take the extra base or two earned him some solid power numbers throughout his career. His greatness was recognized in 1974, when Bell was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Cool Papa Bell may have been the greatest speedster in baseball history, let alone the Negro Leagues. Unfortunately, due to segregation in the game, we never had the chance to know.