1926 ST. LOUIS STARS REAL PHOTO POSTCARD WITH HOF'ERS COOL PAPA BELL, WILLIE WELLS AND MULE SUTTLES (SGC AUTHENTIC).
Item Description
Presented here is a fascinating real photo postcard that rivals just about any of the most important artifacts in Negro League baseball history. Depicted with superb clarity is the 1926 St. Louis Stars baseball club, including three future National Baseball Hall of Fame selectees: Cool Papa Bell, Willie Wells and George "Mule" Suttles. In addition, many other star ballplayers adorn this beauty, here are all of the player identifications: Back Row (L-R) - Mule Suttles (HOF), Willie Wells (HOF), Mitch Murray, Slap Hensley, E. Patton, Johnny Russell, Branch Russell, Henry Williams, Dizzy Dismukes. Front Row (L-R) - Roosevelt Davis, John Reese, Willie Bobo, Dewey Creacy, William Ross, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Percy Miller, G. Brown, Frog Redus.
Organized black baseball first began in St. Louis back in 1906 as the St. Louis Giants team became one of the earliest independent black barnstorming clubs in the Midwest. The St. Louis Giants joined the Negro National League in 1920, the league's inaugural season. At the conclusion of the 1921 season, the Giants built a new ballpark and were renamed as the St. Louis Stars for the upcoming 1922 season. As the decade moved on the Stars would continue to build the foundation for a future dynasty as they would go on to win three Negro League pennants in four years from 1928-31. Although they would only finish third in 1926, the Stars club pictured on this postcard still fashioned a very strong 60-36-2 record
An unknown rookie joined the Stars in 1922, his name was James "Cool Papa" Bell. After initially starring on the mound, Bell would be converted to a fleet-footed outfielder and the rest, as they say, is history. Cool Papa Bell would play a total of 24 seasons of Negro League baseball, starring for some of the greatest powerhouses in the history of professional baseball, black or white. Bell was a key cog in the line-up for the mid-1930s Pittsburgh Crawfords, joining future HOF'ers, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson and Oscar Charleston. In addition, during his final years, Bell would play for the mid-1940s Homestead Grays dynasty, joining Buck Leonard, Josh Gibson and Raymond Brown. Cool Papa Bell was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Willie Wells would be the second of the future Hall of Fame trio to join the Stars, coming aboard prior to the 1924 season. Nicknamed "The Devil", Willie was widely regarded as the second great shortstop of the Negro Leagues era, following in the formidable footsteps of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd. Wells would go on to star for St. Louis over the next eight seasons before becoming a stalwart for the great Newark Eagles ball clubs of the late 1930s. Willie also spent several years in the Mexican League during the early 1940s. Willie was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1997. Last but not least, George "Mule" Suttles came to St. Louis in 1926, quickly becoming the premiere power hitter in Negro League baseball at the time. Mule would spend the next six seasons with the Stars, leading the league in homers twice as well as triples and batting average. Suttles would later spend the late 1930's - early 1940's with the Newark Eagles, where he was part of the "Million Dollar Infield" along with Dick Seay, Willie Wells and Ray Dandridge. Being elected to the Nation al Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 would mark the crowning achievement of Suttles' Negro League career.
This 3.5x5.5" postcard was once mounted in a scrapbook and nearly the entire back, save for a thin 2" long strip along right edge, has black scrapbook page paper adhered to it. This is what defines the "A" SGC designation. This in no way affects the front and postcard is without any margin trim. Front exhibits only the slightest aging and margin wear. The image remains sharp, distinct and with great clarity. It certainly displays and presents miles ahead of the "A" classification.
Extensive research has uncovered that this amazing real photo postcard is one of two known surviving examples with this one exhibiting a much cleaner image as the other one includes handwritten notes across the front. Don't pass up this opportunity to add a phenomenal piece of black baseball history as well as adding three National Baseball Hall of Famers to your collection at one time. The Black Ball Collection.
