Negro National League record for most home runs in a season, 27 in 1926.
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction
1997
Election method
Veterans Committee
Willie James Wells (August 10, 1906[1] – January 22, 1989), nicknamed "the Devil", was an American baseball player. He was a shortstop who played from 1924 to 1948 for various teams in the Negro leagues and in Latin America.
Wells was a fast base-runner who hit for both power and average. He was at his finest with his glove, committing almost no errors and having the speed to run down anything that came in his direction. He is widely considered the best black shortstop of his day. He also taught Jackie Robinson how to turn a double play.[2]
Wells was also notable as being the first player to use a batting helmet, after being hit and receiving a concussion while playing with the Newark Eagles (his first helmet was a construction helmet).
Wells is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
On February 5, 2022 the baseball field at Anderson High School (8403 Mesa Dr., Austin, TX 78759) was dedicated in Willie's honor. The celebration included members of the Wells' family with the keynote presentation by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
^See Luke 2007, which cites the Texas Department of Health as the source for the 1906 birth year, and Hogan 2006, p. 398. Other sources report a birth year of 1905.
^Cite error: The named reference Chronicle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Willie James Wells (August 10, 1906 – January 22, 1989), nicknamed "the Devil", was an American baseball player. He was a shortstop who played from 1924...
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that Josephine met WillieWells, whom she married at age 13, but the marriage lasted less than a year. Following her divorce from Wells, she found work with...
pitcher turned center fielder, Cool Papa Bell, and their shortstop, WillieWells. A gas leak in his home nearly asphyxiated Rube Foster in 1926, and his...
William Wells may refer to: William Wells (general) (1837–1892), U.S. Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient for the Battle of Gettysburg William Wells (Medal...
Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 6, 2011. "Hall of Famers: WillieWells". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 6, 2011...
treated as first-class citizens." Their most famous player was shortstop WillieWells, an Austin native who played with the Black Senators briefly before going...
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the Newark Eagles' "Million Dollar Infield" with Dick Seay at second, WillieWells at shortstop, and Ray Dandridge at third. He also managed, and was highly...
Ann Summers in the sitcom Gilligan's Island. Wells was born to Evelyn (née Steinbrenner) and Joe Wesley Wells in Reno, Nevada, where she attended and graduated...
success, winning a third pennant in 1948 with the help of teenage outfielder Willie Mays. They ended up losing three Negro World Series to the Homestead Grays...
people from multiple classified ballots: Nellie Fox, Tommy Lasorda, and WillieWells. A formal induction ceremony was held in Cooperstown, New York, on August...
1968 American League was the lowest batting average ever to lead a league. Willie Keeler's 1897,Zack Wheat's 1918 and Rod Carew's 1972 are the only three...
Willie Sean Moran MacDougal, better known as Groundskeeper Willie, is a recurring character on The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. He is the head...
Austin, along the Colorado River. The park includes an open area called WillieWells Field, named for the Austin-born Negro league baseball legend. Disch...
to three. Baseball Hall of Fame Nellie Fox Tommy Lasorda Phil Niekro WillieWells Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Edgar Martínez (SEA) Roberto Clemente...
Turkey Stearnes β Mule Suttles β Cristóbal Torriente β Frank Warfield WillieWells β Jud Wilson β Nip Winters They played most of their careers in the organized...
Richard Ingrams and John Wells (Rushton illustrations only) (Private Eye, 1965) Mrs Wilson's 2nd Diary Richard Ingrams and John Wells (Rushton illustrations...
including Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Martin Dihigo, Ray Dandridge and WillieWells. Native Mexican talent was almost run out of the league in 1940, when...
50°41′39″N 2°14′35″W / 50.69430°N 2.24317°W / 50.69430; -2.24317 Little Willie was a prototype in the development of the British Mark I tank. Constructed...
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