Delmar Loop in University City in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Cool Papa Bell
Born May 17, 1903
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 7, 2018
1. Cool Papa Bell Marker
Inscription.
Cool Papa Bell. Born May 17, 1903. Major League Baseball was closed to Blacks until 1947, relegating some of the game's best players to the Negro Leagues. One of them was James Thomas Bell, who joined the St. Louis Stars in 1922. Nicknamed Cool Papa for his composure, Bell played and coached professional baseball for 29 years, known as the fastest player ever, Cool Papa often stole two bases on one pitch or scored from second on a sacrifice fly. Satchel Paige said Bell could turn off the light and "be in bed before the room was dark." He batted .400 several times and stole 175 bases in one year. Cool Papa Bell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Major League Baseball was closed to Blacks until 1947, relegating some of the game's best players to the Negro Leagues. One of them was James Thomas Bell, who joined the St. Louis Stars in 1922. Nicknamed Cool Papa for his composure, Bell played and coached professional baseball for 29 years, known as the fastest player ever, Cool Papa often stole two bases on one pitch or scored from second on a sacrifice fly. Satchel Paige said Bell could turn off the light and "be in bed before the room was dark." He batted .400 several times and stole 175 bases in one year. Cool Papa Bell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Location. 38° 39.347′ N, 90° 18.131′ W. Marker is in University City, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in Delmar Loop. Marker is on Delmar Boulevard west of Limit Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6265 Delmar Boulevard, Saint Louis MO 63130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Other markers about Cool Papa Bell
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 209 times since then and 34 times this year. Photo1. submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
