Piece of local baseball history for sale.
The former home of local baseball legend and Hall of Famer Willie Wells has been put on the market for $325,000. Danny Jeff Bingham, who bought the home in May 2002, has plans and city permits to redevelop the property into a multifamily compound, although the 1910 house has an Austin Historic Landmark designation and is protected. Building permits will transfer to the new owner, according to the listing at www.austinhomesearch.com, and the landmark status will give the owner tax benefits. The house, which has two bedrooms and one bathroom, has updated electric and plumbing systems, as well as a new roof. The home, at 1705 Newton St. in South Austin's historic Swisher addition, has 896 square feet. Wells played in the Negro Leagues for such teams as the Homestead Grays and the Kansas City Monarchs. The shortstop's hard-nosed style of play in the 1920s, '30s and '40s earned him the nickname "El Diablo" during his days in Mexico (he also played in Cuba and Puerto Rico), and it also indirectly led to his lasting mark on the sport. A frequent target of opposing pitchers, Wells batted with a modified construction hard hat after taking a beanball to the temple. He is now credited with inventing the batting helmet. Long snubbed by the Hall of Fame even after it began admitti
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