‘Cool Papa’ Bell Grouping

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

Group of three letters by and about James ‘Cool Papa’ Bell (1903-1991 was an American center fielder in Negro league baseball, considered by many baseball observers to have been the fastest man ever to play the game. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Includes: Autogrtaph Letter Signed to William Van Buskirk, written for him and signed by his wife, July 25, 1972, and reads “Words can not tell you how gratiful I am to have a friend like you. I am expecting to hear from Ted Page everyday, that is why I didn’t let you know sooner. I received your letter and my fare to Cooperstown...Will leave St. Louis Aug. the 4th or 5th...”; ...plus; Autograph Letter in the hand of his wife but signed by Bell “James ‘Cool Papa’ Bell” 2p. quarto, July 27, 1972, to Buskirk, and reads in part: “...Ted Page didn’t have the information I requested about hotels, that is why he didn’t answer my letter sooner. He will be stopping at the Otesaga Hotel, no room there. It has been sold out for months. Motels he told me to try are ...Lake Front Inn and Cooperstown Inn both in Cooperstown N.Y. He also told me to get in touch with Mr. Ed Stack, he handles most of the reservations for the museum....I am leaving St. Louis Friday night should arrive in Cooperstown Sunday morning. That is the information I got at the bus station...”; ...plus; Typed Letter Signed by Buskirk, pertaining to Bell, and reads in part: “...As a bit of background to the enclosed material let me say that the Cool Papa Bell that I knew was not the Hall of Famer. He was a janitor working the night shift in the City Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. No one bothered with him in those days as there was no money to be made! When the Negro League folks were considered for the HOF, the good people in Cooperstown wanted to speak personally to Mr. Bell in an attempt to verify many of the details of his career for which there were few remaining records....It was very difficult for Mr. Bell to write and most of his letters were written for him by his wife as evidenced by the one enclosed. He did sign them though in most cases...” VG. (3 items)

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