James "Cool Papa" Bell Avenue

In the 1980s, Dickson Street between Jefferson Avenue and Webster was renamed James “Cool Papa” Bell Avenue to honor one of the greatest players in Negro League baseball history. James Thomas Bell (1903–1991), born in Mississippi, moved to St. Louis at the age of 16 and went on to play in the Negro National League from 1922 to 1950. Known for his remarkable speed and daring base running, Bell became a legend both for his athleticism and his skill at the plate.

Bell's speed was so legendary that stories about him became baseball lore. He is said to have once reached second base on a bunt, and in another instance, rounded all the bases in just 13.1 seconds—a record-breaking feat. His talents earned him a place among the best to ever play the game, and in 1974, he became the fifth Negro National League player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The renaming of this street not only commemorates Bell’s contributions to baseball, but also celebrates his legacy in St. Louis, where his extraordinary career and enduring legend continue to inspire.