One of the greatest pitchers of all time, Bob Feller, died Wednesday at the age of 92. His accomplishments are huge; a Hall of Famer and a 6-time 20 game winner whose fastball is ranked as the third fastest in the history of professional baseball by Tim Wendel in his new book High Heat. Incredibly, he struck out 15 batters in his major league debut--at the age of 17 and ultimately amassed 266 victories, a total that would have been much higher, but for the fact that Feller enlisted in the Navy two days after Pearl Harbor and served for four years.
"Rapid Robert" as he was known was always one of my father's favorite players. Dad didn't really follow professional sports all that much, nor engage in any star-worship, but I heard about Bob Feller from him at an early age. I heard about how Feller worked on his family's Iowa farm and joined the Indians out of high school and how he served in the Navy. About 15 years ago, my parents went on a baseball theme cruise and Bob Feller was among the couple of dozen players and managers who were the featured attraction. My dad, who served three years on a destroyer in WWII, had a chance to talk to Feller and talk they did. The funny thing is, as my dad related their conversation to me, it was all about the war and the navy. Feller didn't talk to my dad as a Hall of Fame pitcher talking to yet another fan. They talked to each other as veterans; as shipmates even. The conversation confirmed my dad's impression that Bob Feller was real; that he'd left the farm, but those unpretentious values that farm life teaches had never left him.
Bob Feller was a great ballplayer and a greater American. A fascinating guy, I encourage you to check out Feller in his own words, through this link.
RIP Rapid Robert Feller, one of my dad's favorites.
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