🚀 Legendary Speed (Perhaps the Fastest Ever)

• Widely considered the fastest man ever to play baseball.

• Famously said to be so fast he could turn off the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark.

• Consistently stole 100+ bases per season in league and barnstorming play.

• Known for stealing second, third, and home — in succession — during one at-bat.

🏆 Team Success & Championships

• Star player for multiple Negro League powerhouses:
  

  • St. Louis Stars

  • Kansas City Monarchs

  • Chicago American Giants

  • Homestead Grays

• Won multiple Negro League pennants and championships, especially with the St. Louis Stars (late 1920s).

• Key contributor to dynastic teams featuring other legends like Satchel Paige, Mule Suttles, and Buck Leonard.

🏏 Elite All-Around Player

• Career batting average: Often cited around .325–.350.

• Switch hitter with excellent contact skills.

• Elite center fielder — incredible range, strong instincts.

• Known for exceptional baseball IQ and leadership.

🌎 International Stardom

• Played extensively in Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

• Became a huge star in Latin America, particularly in Mexico.

• Helped raise the level of international professional baseball.

🧠 Pioneer & Mentor

• Later became a manager and scout.

• Mentored future MLB players and Negro League stars.

• Served as a baseball ambassador internationally.

🏛 Hall of Fame

• Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

• Recognized not only for talent but also for transformational impact on the game.

🏆 Why He Matters Historically

Cool Papa Bell is often mentioned alongside:

• Ty Cobb (hitting)

• Rickey Henderson (speed)

• Willie Mays (five-tool excellence)

Many historians argue Bell would have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer in MLB if not for segregation.

These cut autos were well-executed and look high-end and very clean. Not worried about the grade at all - doesn’t really matter. Clean. Simple. classy. Professional. Polished. Just like Ted Williams

This is one of my favorite cut autograph cards. It’s almost perfectly executed, and upper deck the cut autographs well. My only complaint is that they chopped off a teeny bit of the signature, but otherwise this is a stunning example of a nice cut auto. I love the fact that this is hand numbered to seven, Mantle’s jersey number. It would only be better if it was number seven out of seven.

One of my favorite cut autos. I had the chance to pick this up about 10 years ago. Or a different Jackie cut auto that was 1/1 from a less significant set. Both had cancelled stamps. I should have picked them both up! (They were $1500 each). It’s wild that this set had 147 Jackie Robinson cut autos. Crazy. Still happy to have this one and a BGS 9.5 grade as a bonus.

In the next three posts, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite cut autos. This is the only Honus Wagner card I have and it’s a beautiful cut autograph put out in 2008 by upper deck. They really did knock it out of the park with some of these legendary autographs. While I’ll never own a T206 Wagner I’m excited to have this as part of my permanent collection.