Stearnes

“Cool Papa” Bell said: “Turkey Stearnes is the man who should be in the Hall of Fame. If he isn’t in, no one should be in.” It wasn’t until there was a significant compilation of Negro League statistics that most folks understood what Bell was talking about.

Turkey Stearnes turned down an offer to become a major leaguer so he could earn his high school diploma. It didn’t stop him from becoming a huge star in the Negro Leagues.