Cliff Bell

Clifford Bell
(Campanita, Cherry, Clarence)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut 1921
• Final Game 1931
• Born July 2, 1896 in Kildare, TX USA
• Died April 13, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Cliff Bell was a Negro League pitcher for 12 years. James Riley lists him as being a brother of Fred Bell and Cool Papa Bell, but this has not been verified by biographical research by Patrick Rock.

Bell debuted with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1921, going 8-4 with a 3.95 ERA. He had a 0-3, 3.00 record in limited work in 1922. In 1923, he only pitched three innings (all scoreless) for the Monarchs. He was 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 1924, then lost his only decision in the 1924 Negro World Series, dropping game 4 to Rube Currie of Hilldale; Kansas City still won the Series.

In the winter of 1924-1925, the right-hander was with the Los Angeles White Sox. He went 7-6 but led the California Winter League with 84 strikeouts. His two shutouts tied Currie for the lead and he tied Currie for third in wins. Bell was 5-7 in 1925, again the #2 Bell on his team after William Bell. Cliff started and lost game 5 of the 1925 Negro World Series to Currie, dropping a 2-1 decision on a 2-run homer by Tank Carr. This time, Hilldale beat the Monarchs. Cliff was 5-3 in 1926.

Cliff moved to the Memphis Red Sox in 1927 and posted a 9-11 record. In the winter, he was 6-2 for Habana, one win behind Oscar Levis for the Cuban Winter League lead. Bell was 10-7 in 1928 with Memphis. Back with Habana in 1928-1929, he was 9-3, tying Dolf Luque for the league lead in victories and leading in complete games (11). In his third season with the Red Sox, the Texan was just 1-7 in 1929. He was not as sharp his third season with Habana but still was 9-8. He tied for the league lead in losses while making the most appearances (23).

In 1930, Bell was 6-14 for Memphis, tying Luis Tiant Sr. for the Negro National League lead in losses. He was only 1-4 for Habana that winter. He was better in the California Winter League, going 6-2 and tying for second in wins. He split 1931 between the Cleveland Cubs (5-8) and Nashville Elite Giants (0-1), was 1-0 in the 1931-1931 California Winter League. then ended his career with no decisions for the 1932 Monarchs

Overall, Bell was 53-66 in the Negro Leagues, 14-8 in the California Winter League and 25-17 in the Cuban Winter League for a composite 92-91 record. He was 8th in California Winter League history with 127 strikeouts, between Currie and Erv Kantlehner and he tied for 10th with three shutouts.

Notable Achievements

• NNL Games Pitched Leader (1930)
• Won one Negro World Series with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1924

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• The California Winter League by William McNeil
• Seamheads Negro League database
• Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History by Jorge Figueredo