IL1 Columbus Clippers

A true American hero

Published on May 26, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Columbus Clippers News Release


Tonight at The Coop, baseball' legendary Hall of Famer Bob Feller will be signing autographs and greeting the fans. But as we start the Memorial Day weekend, let me tell you that Feller was much more than a baseball hero. At the height of his career, at age 23, his career was interrupted by his four-year enlistment in the Navy. Feller could have taken the easy road and stayed stateside as a Navy spokesman. But upon entering the Navy, Feller became an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the U.S.S. Alabama in the Pacific theater and came out a highly decorated war veteran. For which he was decorated with five campaign ribbons studded with eight battle stars. A true war hero.

This farm boy from Van Meter, Iowa was only 17 when he struck out eight members of the St. Louis Cardinals in three innings of an exhibition game. After this awesome display of pitching, Feller was advised to seek voluntary retirement from high school in order to sign a professional baseball contract. For 20 years, the teenage phenomena was known as "Bullet Bob" and "Rapid Robert." As a rookie, he struckout 15 batters in a single game, which at that time was an American League record. In 1940, Bullet Bob became the first American League pitcher to throw a complete game no-hitter on opening day.

He then re-entered Major League Baseball to regain his dominance on the mound. Even though his military career consumed four prime baseball years, Feller ranks 28th in history with 266 wins. He remains the Indians all-time leader in shutouts (46), strikeouts (2,581), innings (3,828) and All-Star appearances (8).

To this day, baseball historians speculate that Bullet Bob might have won 350 games and recorded nearly 3,500 strikeouts had he not joined the military. In 1962, this bullet hit the bulls-eye with an induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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International League Stories from May 26, 2006


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