"Bell
was so fast he could get out of bed, turn out the lights across the room,
and be back under the covers before the lights went out," were the
praising words of Josh Gibson, Negro League superstar. Unfortunately for
baseball fans, Bell's nearly 30-year career was spent in the Negro Leagues
in an era where few statistics were kept. If his numbers were recorded,
we most likely would still be marveling at his great feats. Only one year
of baseball has been officially documented for "Cool Papa". It
was the 1940 Mexican League season, a year he hit an astounding .437. It
is estimated that his lifetime average is nearly .340, and he supposedly
stole 175 bases in one season. Amid all the mystery, it is best to measure
this superstar by his greatest honor. He joined baseball's immortals in
1974 with his election into the Hall of Fame.
CMG
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