Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. A legendary pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, he was felt by some to have had the fastest fastball ever, reaching over 107 mph as measured today. Born in Van Meter, Iowa, he was raised on an Iowa farm where he developed arm strength by milking cows and was taught to pitch by his father on a homemade ball field. Spotted by scout Cy Slapnicka, he was signed to a contract and in 1936 joined the Indians without ever having played in the Minor Leagues; Feller struck out 17 batters in a game at age 17, graduated from high school after his rookie season, set a then-record with 18 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers in 1938, and pitched what at his death remained baseball's only opening day no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in 1940. He joined the United States Navy following the Pearl Harbor attack and served aboard the battleship "USS Alabama" as a Chief Petty Officer in the Pacific campaign until 1945. Returning to Cleveland in 1946, he won 26 games with 15 losses, achieving 10 shutouts that year. His Indians won the 1948 World Series (though he did not win a game in it), and he continued his career through 1956. An eight time All-Star selection, he retired with 266 wins and 162 losses, with three no-hitters, a record 12 one-hitters, 46 shutouts, 2,581 strikeouts, a 3.25 ERA, and a then-record 1,764 walks. Named to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1962, he lived in Cleveland while traveling widely as an unofficial "ambassador" for baseball. Feller remained active into his 90s and was a supporter of the United States military to the end of his days. At his death, his childhood home in Van Meter, Iowa, was on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Bob Feller Museum was designed by his architect son. Bob Feller died of leukemia at age 92 in 2010.
Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. A legendary pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, he was felt by some to have had the fastest fastball ever, reaching over 107 mph as measured today. Born in Van Meter, Iowa, he was raised on an Iowa farm where he developed arm strength by milking cows and was taught to pitch by his father on a homemade ball field. Spotted by scout Cy Slapnicka, he was signed to a contract and in 1936 joined the Indians without ever having played in the Minor Leagues; Feller struck out 17 batters in a game at age 17, graduated from high school after his rookie season, set a then-record with 18 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers in 1938, and pitched what at his death remained baseball's only opening day no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in 1940. He joined the United States Navy following the Pearl Harbor attack and served aboard the battleship "USS Alabama" as a Chief Petty Officer in the Pacific campaign until 1945. Returning to Cleveland in 1946, he won 26 games with 15 losses, achieving 10 shutouts that year. His Indians won the 1948 World Series (though he did not win a game in it), and he continued his career through 1956. An eight time All-Star selection, he retired with 266 wins and 162 losses, with three no-hitters, a record 12 one-hitters, 46 shutouts, 2,581 strikeouts, a 3.25 ERA, and a then-record 1,764 walks. Named to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1962, he lived in Cleveland while traveling widely as an unofficial "ambassador" for baseball. Feller remained active into his 90s and was a supporter of the United States military to the end of his days. At his death, his childhood home in Van Meter, Iowa, was on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Bob Feller Museum was designed by his architect son. Bob Feller died of leukemia at age 92 in 2010.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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