SKU: 63408996529

Willie Wells: "El Diablo" of the Negro Leagues

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Willie Wells: "El Diablo" of the Negro LeaguesWinner, Robert Peterson Recognition Award, 2008 Willie Wells was arguably the best shortstop of his generation. As Monte Irvin, a teammate and fellow Hall of Fame player, writes in his foreword, "Wells really could do it all. He was one of the slickest fielding shortstops ever to come along. He had speed on the bases. He hit with power and consistency. He was among the most durable players I've ever known." Yet few people have heard of the feisty

Winner, Robert Peterson Recognition Award, 2008

Willie Wells was arguably the best shortstop of his generation. As Monte Irvin, a teammate and fellow Hall of Fame player, writes in his foreword, "Wells really could do it all. He was one of the slickest fielding shortstops ever to come along. He had speed on the bases. He hit with power and consistency. He was among the most durable players I've ever known." Yet few people have heard of the feisty ballplayer nicknamed "El Diablo." Willie Wells was black, and he played long before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier. Bob Luke has sifted through the spotty statistics, interviewed Negro League players and historians, and combed the yellowed letters and newspaper accounts of Wells's life to draw the most complete portrait yet of an important baseball player.

Wells's baseball career lasted thirty years and included seasons in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada. He played against white all-stars as well as Negro League greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Buck O'Neill, among others. He was beaned so many times that he became the first modern player to wear a batting helmet.

As an older player and coach, he mentored some of the first black major leaguers, including Jackie Robinson and Don Newcombe. Willie Wells truly deserved his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but Bob Luke details how the lingering effects of segregation hindered black players, including those better known than Wells, long after the policy officially ended. Fortunately, Willie Wells had the talent and tenacity to take on anything--from segregation to inside fastballs--life threw at him. No wonder he needed a helmet.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Published: 09/01/2007
ISBN: 9780292717510
Pages: 192
Weight: 0.74lbs
Size: 8.89h x 6.13w x 0.54d
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SKU: 63408996529

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Niko Garcia
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 4
Good shirt
Size: Medium, Color: Teal 02
Love the color and the design of the shirt. The small threads it’s made out of starting to come loose though. Now when look down at chest and stomach area, there are 15+ little strings that pop out of the shirt.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
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Greg
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Awesome shirt!
Size: Medium, Color: Blue, Size: Medium, Color: Blue
This is a nice shirt! Let me start by saying I am 6 foot 2, 195pounds with about a 40 inch chest, 42 inches on a good day! Ha ha. I ordered a medium because I wanted an athletic fit. The medium fits just right. For those wanting a normal, roomier fit I would recommend the large for my size. I’ll get a lot of compliments when I wear this shirt. What I like about it is that it is wrinkle free and looks great, I would not wear it on a super hot day with a snug fit. I do live in Florida, so that makes a difference. I also ordered the black one, both the blue and the black look very good for dress /casual. It’s polyester so it’s not super soft, which is OK. That also means it does not shrink.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2025
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Tara and Jeff
Draper, US
★★★★★ 3
Nice shirt but seems to be confusion over the color/pattern.
Size: Medium, Color: Teal 02
Nice shirt. Looks sharp and feels comfy. Lightweight and breathable. Definitely an "upscale" polo that looks like it costs more than it does - so very happy with the value. Fits as expected for the size. The only issue is that I ordered a color and style called Teal-02 and they sent me Navy-01. The color and pattern is different. It's not bad, just not what I ordered. I requested a resend of the Teal...and got the same Navy color again. Annoying.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2026
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Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice, but a bit transparent.
Size: X-Large, Color: Lake Green
I love the feel of this shirt. It is very cool and comfortable. The only thing I will add is that this shirt is a bit see-through. If I wear it, I do not feel comfortable unless I have an undershirt on.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
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John
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice shirt
Size: XX-Large, Color: Black
Great look Great fit... got it in a few colors
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026

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