Though HOFer James "Cool Papa" Bell doesn't appear on any of the Stolen Base record lists, he was reputed to be the fastest player of his time on the base paths:
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Originally Posted by Wikipedia
Bell described the style of play on the occasions when the Negro league players faced white teams in exhibitions: "We played a different kind of baseball than the white teams. We played tricky baseball. We did things they didn't expect. We'd bunt and run in the first inning. Then when they would come in for a bunt we'd hit away. We always crossed them up. We'd run the bases hard and make the fielders throw too quick and make wild throws. We'd fake a steal home and rattle the pitcher into a balk."
Bell was described as being so fast that he once scored from first on a sacrifice bunt. In an exhibition game against white all-stars, Bell is said to have broken for second on a bunt and run with Paige at the plate. By the time the ball reached Paige, Bell was almost to second and seeing the third baseman had broken towards home to field the bunt, rounded the bag. The catcher, Roy Partee of the Boston Red Sox, ran to third to cover the bag and an anticipated return throw from first. To his surprise, Bell rounded third and brushed by him on the way home; pitcher Murry Dickson of the St. Louis Cardinals had not thought to cover home with the catcher moving up the line, and Bell scored standing up.
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Sure sounds to me as if Cool Papa Bell played baseball the way it should be played! I may in time add an Ultra Pro page for Cool Papa Bell Topps, Fleer, Donruss and Upper Deck cards to the mini binder I'm envisioning for the cards of base stealers who played outside the 1954-65 years that's my focus for the
Baseball cards I collect.
