NEGRO LEAGUES CENTENNIAL TEAM BOBBLEHEAD SERIES: Willie James "El Diablo" Wells
| Item Number: | 2076453 |
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Item Description
The Negro League Centennial Team (1920-2020) is comprised of 30 of the greatest African-American and Cuban players from 1895-1947 plus a manager and a team owner. Each individual is depicted on a baseball-shaped base with replica of Kansas City's Paseo YMCA, the site where the Negro National League was organized on February 13th, 1920. The bobbleheads are officially licensed by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and approved by the families when applicable. Each player is individually numbered to only 2,020. This bobblehead is of Willie James "El Diablo" Wells, a member of the St. Louis Stars. Wells was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Wells, the leading shortstop of the Negro Leagues in the 1930s and 40s, plied his trade in the U.S., Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Wells was often the victim of chin music. In 1942 after being knocked unconscious, he returned the next game wearing a modified construction helmet. While soft head gear had been experimented with earlier, this innovation was part of an evolution in protective gear that eventually became required in the National and American Leagues in 1956 and 1958, respectively, but not fully enforced until 1979. Wells (SS) was a member of the "million-dollar infield" of the Newark Eagles (1937-1938) along with Ray Dandridge (3B), Mule Suttles (1B) and Dick Seay (2B).
Wells, the leading shortstop of the Negro Leagues in the 1930s and 40s, plied his trade in the U.S., Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Wells was often the victim of chin music. In 1942 after being knocked unconscious, he returned the next game wearing a modified construction helmet. While soft head gear had been experimented with earlier, this innovation was part of an evolution in protective gear that eventually became required in the National and American Leagues in 1956 and 1958, respectively, but not fully enforced until 1979. Wells (SS) was a member of the "million-dollar infield" of the Newark Eagles (1937-1938) along with Ray Dandridge (3B), Mule Suttles (1B) and Dick Seay (2B).