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1929-30 Cienfuegos Postcard with Willie Wells & Cool Papa Bell
Unspeakably rare postcard front by the group image of the 1929-30 Cuban League champion Cienfuegos Petroleros, who were taken over the top by two future HOFers on their winter break from the Negro Leagues -- "Cool Papa" Bell and Willie "The Devil" Wells. The participation of these popular black players was critical in drawing other "blackball" legends to the island, including Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. Cool Papa, seen 2nd from left sitting in the front row of the sepia-toned photo, was already a legend with the St. Louis Stars, and was so fast, Paige would later say, that he could get out of bed, turn the light off and by the time the room was dark be asleep under the covers. Bell would later play with Paige, Gibson and 3 other HOFers on the Negro leagues' answer to the '27 Yankees, the '36 Pittsburgh Crawfords. Wells, also on the St. Louis Stars then, appears 2nd from left standing. He holds the "official" Negro league seasonal home run record, with 27 in '26 and was an extremely gifted all-around player who'd bat .320 in 7 Cuban league seasons, winning 2 home run titles and 2 MVP awards. 5 3/8 x 3 1/4" postcard has the players' names written on their images. Back is stamped "Rafael Vallis fotografo, Castillo Cinefuegos." Postcard is VG-EX on front, GD with soiling and darkening on back (unposted). And, yes, "Petroleros" meant "oil men" or "oil tankers," such being the U.S. influence on the island.
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