Cool Papa Bell, a Leading Player in the Negro Leagues, Dead at 87

James (Cool Papa) Bell, among the first players from the Negro Leagues to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, died after a brief illness.

Bell, considered the fastest player in the Negro Leagues, died Thursday night at St. Louis University Hospital, officials said. He was 87.

Hall of Famer Satchel Paige liked to tell a story demonstrative of Bell’s speed.

“He was so fast, man, that he could turn out the light and jump in bed before it got dark,” said Paige, not knowing the switch had a three-second delay.

Bell had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack Feb. 27. His wife, Clara B. Bell, died Jan. 20.

Bell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974, after Negro League stars Paige in 1971, Josh Gibson and Walter (Buck) Leonard in 1972 and Monte Irvin in 1973.

Bell hit .407 in 1946, his final season. He retired a year before Jackie Robinson became the first black player to appear in the major leagues.