William Bell Jr. (baseball) facts for kids

William Bell, Jr. was a talented baseball player. He was a pitcher in the Negro American League. This league was for African American players. He played in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Bell was known for his amazing accuracy when pitching. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 30, 1930. He batted and threw with his left hand.

William Bell, Jr.: A Baseball Pitcher

William Bell, Jr. was often called 'Bill Lefty'. This nickname came from his left-handed pitching. He was famous for his ability to pitch with great accuracy. He could place the ball exactly where he wanted it.

Starting His Baseball Journey

Bell began his baseball career in 1949. He joined the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1950, he played for two teams. He pitched for both the Monarchs and the Birmingham Black Barons. He continued with the Monarchs until early 1951.

Serving His Country

Bell's baseball career was paused in 1951. He joined the military to serve in the Korean War. He served from 1951 to 1953. During his time in the military, Bell kept playing baseball. He played in games with mixed teams. These teams had both white and Black players. Some of his teammates were famous players. They included Vern Law and Syd Thrift. Both were pitchers for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played with Willie Mays. Mays was a star outfielder for the New York Giants. After his military service, Bell returned to the Monarchs. He pitched for them briefly in 1954.

Life After Baseball

After his baseball days, Bell went back to Des Moines, Iowa. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He held many leadership jobs there for 34 years. He also helped his community. From 1972 to 1974, he was a co-chairman. He worked on the Committee for Better Race Relations. This committee was at Des Moines East High School.

Bell also coached youth baseball. He coached a local team in the Babe Ruth League for three years. He led his team to win one Iowa State tournament title.

A Special Baseball Tribute

In 2008, Major League Baseball held a special event. They created a draft for surviving Negro League players. This was a tribute to these players. They had been kept out of the Major Leagues because of their race. Hall of Fame Baseball player Dave Winfield came up with this idea. The draft happened before the main 2008 MLB Draft. Each MLB team chose a former Negro League player. William Bell, Jr. was drafted by the Minnesota Twins as a pitcher.