Negro League Baseball Discussion Forum: General Discussion About The Negro Leagues: Cool papa races jesse owens….
By Jkurt (Jkurt) on Tuesday, July 31, 2001 – 03:17 pm:
i've read numerous narrative accounts of cool papa bell's abortive attempts to get jesse owens to race him at 100 yards, as part of the pre-game excitement during cool's tenure with the pittsburgh crawfords. has anyone else read accounts of negro league players owens actually DID race? i read one anecdote about owens LOSING to david 'speed' whatley (a former homestead grays and pittsburgh crawfords outfielder), a particularly interesting story given that whatley wasn't given any kind of head start…
any responses would be thoroughly appreciated!