Bob Feller Dead at 92

[SamuelKhan]

CLEVELAND – Teenage pitching sensation, World War II hero, outspoken Hall of Famer and local sports treasure. Bob Feller was all of them.

One of a kind, he was an American original.

Blessed with a right arm that earned the Iowa farmboy the nickname "Rapid Robert" and made him one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Feller, who left baseball in the prime of his career to fight for his country, died Wednesday night. He was 92.

Feller, who won 266 games in 18 seasons — all with the Indians — died at 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday night of acute leukemia at a hospice, said Bob DiBiasio, the Indians vice president of public relations.

* Winningest pitcher in Cleveland Indians history (266 victories)
* Led league in wins six times (1939–41, 1946–47, 1951)
* Led league in ERA (1940)
* Led league in strikeouts seven times (1938–41, 1946–48)
* Pitched three no-hitters, including the only Opening Day no-hitter.
* 8-time All-Star (1938–41, 1946–48, 1950)
* Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1962
* Only Chief Petty Officer in United States Navy history to be elected to a major sports Hall Of Fame.
* In 1999, he ranked Number 36 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

^The trading card that matters. Baseball stud that that dropped his glove and picked up a gun the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Navy, the first player to do so during World War II.

 

[milagros317]

One of the truly great pitchers of all time. Rest In Peace, Mr. Feller.