Bell, James

Bell, (James Thomas) “Cool Papa”

(1903–91) baseball player; born in Starkville, Miss. An outfielder for the St. Louis Stars, Pittsburgh Crawfords, and Homestead Grays (black baseball teams of the 1920s and 1930s), he was universally regarded as the fastest player, white or black, ever to play the game. A solid .350 hitter and prolific base stealer, he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1974.