The Greatest Cleveland Indian Bob Feller

Bob Feller seemed destined for baseball greatness at a young age. Born on November 3, 1918, he grew up in Van Meter, Iowa. His father William built him a real-life field of dreams on their farm, complete with grandstand, and put a generator and lights in the barn so Bob could practice at night. At age 14 he broke a few of his father's ribs with one of his curveballs. And at 16, he was secretly signed by the Cleveland Indians. The next year he would suit up for them and began his path to Cooperstown.

In 1936, at age 17, Feller made his first big league appearance against the St. Louis Browns and struck out 15 batters. In September of that season, facing the Philadelphia Athletics, he struck out 17 batters in a single game to set the American League record. He then went back to finish high school, where his graduation was broadcast on NBC Radio.

Rapid Robert continued to improve, and in 1939, he began a string of three consecutive seasons leading the league in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. In 1940 he threw the only opening day no-hitter in the history of baseball.

In December of 1941, the 22 year old Feller was driving to Chicago to sign a new contract with the Indians when he heard the news that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. When he got to the Windy City, he decided to instead join the Navy to defend his country. He could have easily gotten a deferment, but was the first big leaguer to join the service, to be followed by such stars as Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Hang Greenberg and Stan Musial. He even volunteered for combat duty and saw action in the Pacific.

Feller served from 1942 until 1945, earning 5 campaign ribbons and 8 battle stars. He did keep his pitching skills sharp when he had the chance, and returned to the Indians in 1945 to pitch 9 games.

In 1962, Feller was honored with election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in his first year of eligibility. He received 93% of the votes. The Sporting News later named him the greatest pitcher of his time. In 1994, a statue of Feller was put up outside the new Jacobs Field in Cleveland. (Now Progressive Field) And in 1995, the Bob Feller Museum opened in his hometown of Van Meter.

Rapid Robert stayed very involved in the game he loved. Often visiting spring training and his museum, he also traveled to different ballparks and card shows around the country. In June 2010, the 91 -year old appeared at an old-timers game in Cooperstown, NY.

He stayed very opinionated, believing that steroid users do not belong in the Hall of Fame, no matter who they are. Feller always seemed to long for a time when baseball was about the game and winning, not money, fancy ballparks and individual success over that of the team.

Bob Feller died on December 15, 2010. He had been fighting leukemia, and dealing with vertigo and pneumonia. He was one of the best pitchers the game has ever seen, and in 1969 was voted the game's best living right-handed pitcher. Many question what his numbers would have been had he never gone to war. But Feller never asked what-if. He did what he thought any good American should do, and never looked back.