WILLIE WELLS

An incredibly sure-handed slugger, Willie “El Diablo” Wells was unique among shortstops combining defensive excellence with offensive power. He set a single-season Negro leagues record with 27 homers in 88 recorded games for the St. Louis Stars in 1926. Wells diabolically studied opposing hitters and always seemed to position himself perfectly in order to throw runners out by a single step. He batted .320 over seven Cuban Winter League seasons, while winning two home run titles and two MVP awards.

G1039 AB3920 R932 H1292 2B257 3B65 HR140 RBI873 AVE.330

Images courtesy of Dick Perez