Herman Bell

Herman Bell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 195 lb.

Herman Bell played eight years for the Birmingham Black Barons.

Bell debuted in 1943 and was Birmingham's main catcher, but for the 1943 Negro World Series, the team added Ted Radcliffe and Bell was on the bench. Herman was a third-stringer behind Radcliffe and Pepper Bassett in 1944, though both regulars hit under .230. He hit .277 in 1945, outperforming Bassett, who he split the catcher's role with. He backed up Bassett from 1946 to 1948, hitting .261 in '48. Birmingham lost to the Homestead Grays in the 1948 Negro World Series, a reprise of '43. Bell fell to .196 in 1949 but appeared in the 1949 East-West Game. Pinch-hitting for Orlando Varona, he was retired by Pullman Porter in the 6th inning. Bell ended his career with the 1950 Black Barons.

Sources

• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway

Related Sites

• Herman Bell at the SABR Bio Project