Cool Papa Bell Autographed St. Louis Stars Photo. Lot 14 guarantees the authenticity of these signatures (read auction info for details). He is considered to have been the fastest man ever to play the game of baseball. Many tall tales, myths, and legends exist regarding Cool Papa Bell some more plausible than others. Bell was described as being so fast that he once scored from 1st on a sacrifice bunt. He also once circled the bases in 13.1 seconds on a soggy field in Chicago and claimed that he had done it in as few as 12 seconds in dry conditions. Satchel Paige also liked to say that Bell was so fast he could turn off the light and be under the covers before the room got dark. Legend also holds that Bell hit a ball up the middle of the field and that he was struck by the ball as he slid into 2nd base. Please see images for details regarding condition.