Bob Feller
From BR Bullpen
Robert William Andrew Feller (Rapid Robert)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
- High School Van Meter High School
- Debut July 19, 1936
- Final Game September 30, 1956
- Born November 3, 1918 in Van Meter, IA USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1962
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[edit] Biographical Information
Bob Feller debuted with 15 strikeouts in his first major league start for the 1936 Cleveland Indians. He was 17 years old at the time and had been signed by the Indians on the recommendation of legendary scout Cy Slapnicka, who was acting as the team's general manager at the time. After the season, he returned to Van Meter High School for the 1936-37 school term, as he was a rising senior during the 1936 season. When he graduated in 1937, NBC Radio covered his graduation.
Bob Feller's blazing fastball set the standard against which all of his successors have been judged. "Rapid Robert" spent his 18-year career with the Cleveland Indians, amassing 266 victories and 2,581 strikeouts, while leading the league in strikeouts seven times.
Feller lost several years in the Navy at the height of his career. He enlisted on December 9, 1941, at age 23, putting aside his 3-C draft deferment as his family's sole support. He was the first Major Leaguer to enlist after Pearl Harbor and was CPO aboard the battleship Alabama in the North Atlantic (escorting American ships) and South Pacific (8 invasions); he missed almost 4 seasons and earned five Campaign Ribbons and eight battle stars. He was released from active duty on August 24, 1945.
In 1941, the year before he went into the Navy, he won 25 games. In 1946, his first full season back, he won 26. So, it is safe to assume he lost probably 100 wins that could have been added to his career total of 266. He led the league in strikeouts seven times, and in wins six times. He was a truly dominating pitcher. On May 2, 1955, while already on the downside of his career, he combined with 21-year-old teammate Herb Score on one of the most dominating pitching performances ever seen in a doubleheader. In the opener, he pitched a one-hitter over the Boston Red Sox, facing only 21 men; Score then fanned the first nine Boston batters he faced and ended with 16 strikeouts and a 2-1 win. The 16 K's were only two short of Feller's then-record 18 strikeouts in a game, achieved on the last day of the 1938 season. Feller was also famous for being the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter on Opening Day, blanking the Chicago White Sox on April 16 1940.
Bob Feller was the first president of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) in 1954. He was the highest-paid player of his time, in large part because he negotiated bonus clauses into his contract tied to the Indians' annual attendance. The team was very popular, particularly in the immediate post-war seasons of 1946-1949, and the bonus clauses were larger than his already substantial base salary.
Feller has been in the Hall of Fame for 46 years, the longest tenure of any living player. He continues to do public relations work for the Indians and claims he has shaken more hands than anyone in the history of the world. Feller has estimated that he has signed more than one million autographs for fans. Feller is the cousin of Hal Manders.
In an interview around August 1, 2006, Feller came out against putting Mark McGwire into the Hall of Fame. The reason was steroid use. When asked about the lack of proof, Feller said "I know a bum when I see one".
His first Baseball Card appearance was on the 1936 R314 Goudey
[edit] A First-hand Recollection
The following is an anecdote about watching Feller pitch is his prime in 1946 from someone who did actually see him then (originally posted here):
- I saw Feller three times in his prime. One I don't remember, one I vaguely remember, and one I remember. You may recall I had an uncle who lived in Chicago who my father would visit once a year. Actually, the pretense was to see his mother - my grandmother (who lived with my uncle - sort of), but they spent most of their time raising Cain. I got to go along (as I later learned) to delude my mother into thinking the week was one of reconnecting to the family. Actually, it was a week of me going to ballgames, carnivals, and hanging out at one of the taverns my uncle owned. My uncle Herb was a great guy. A true Damon Runyon character.
- But ANYWAY, I saw Feller in 1946 when he was at the top of his game. I remember he shut out the White Sox. I swore I wouldn't use retrosheet so I will say the score is 2-0 and Feller struck out a lot. Yeah, I know, pretty impressive. Cut me some slack. I was thirteen, drinking beer, and the responsible member of my group. Like I wrote, my uncle was GREAT.
- What I find funny is Feller talking about how players should act. What I took away from that game is that Bob Feller was one cocky SOB. Kind of like Pedro. Not overt but all sorts of little mannerisms that told the hitters they didn't matter. The swagger to the mound, the disdainful look, the flip of the glove after getting the ball back when a batter swung and missed. He had it ALL going on. Bob Feller knew he was good, knew the hitter knew he was good, and there wasn't a d*mn thing the hitter could do about it. Sort of a "take your swings, whatever" attitude.
- THAT was Bob Feller circa 1946.
- I also think it's pretty obvious why Feller walked so many in his prime. He knew nobody could touch him so why bother working on control? The other thing I distinctly recall is the sound of the catcher's mitt. We all know that sound. Well, take that sound and treble it. Just a THWACK. Curveball that fell off the table. But I don't think Feller had one friggin' clue where it was going. He just wound up and WHOOSH. And since he felt he was indestructible if he walked somebody he would just bull his way through the situation. Runners on? Bah, I'll get the next guy.
[edit] Quote
"Feller was the fastest pitcher I've ever seen, and he had the best curveball I've ever seen." --Jim Hegan.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 8-time AL All-Star (1938-1941, 1946-1948 & 1950)
- AL Pitcher's Triple Crown (1940)
- AL ERA Leader (1940)
- 6-time AL Wins Leader (1939-1941, 1946, 1947 & 1951)
- 3-time AL Games Pitched Leader (1940, 1941 & 1946)
- 5-time AL Innings Pitched Leader (1931-1941, 1946 & 1947)
- 7-time AL Strikeouts Leader (1938-1941 & 1946-1948)
- 3-time AL Complete Games Leader (1939, 1940 & 1946)
- 4-time AL Shutouts Leader (1940, 1941, 1946 & 1947)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 10 (1938-1941 & 1946-1951)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 6 (1939-1941, 1946, 1947 & 1951)
- 25 Wins Seasons: 3 (1940, 1941 & 1946)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 10 (1938-1941 & 1946-1951)
- 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1940, 1941 & 1946)
- 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 5 (138-1941 & 1946)
- 300 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1946)
- Won a World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 1948
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1962
[edit] Records Held
- Complete games, season (since 1920), 36, 1946
[edit] Further Reading
- Donald Dewey and Nicholas Acocella: "Bob Feller", in The New Biographical History of Baseball, Triumph Books, Chicago, IL, 2002, pp. 126-127.
- Bob Feller and Burton Rocks: Bob Feller's Little Blue Book of Baseball Wisdom, Triumph Books, Chicago, IL, 2009.
- Michael J. Haupert: "Bob Feller, Ace Negotiator", in Brad Sullivan, ed.: Batting Four Thousand: Baseball in the Western Reserve, SABR, Cleveland, OH, 2008, pp. 6-15.
- Hal Lebovitz: "Mr. Robert, Master Herbie", in Brad Sullivan, ed.: Batting Four Thousand: Baseball in the Western Reserve, SABR, Cleveland, OH, 2008, pp. 55-56.
