Feller Pitches in Old Timers Game

[Mike D.]

Sorry if this was posted somewhere else, but I just saw this and thought it was the coolest thing I've seen in a while:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/06/22/feller/index.html

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Go get 'em Rapid Robert! :clapping

[micsmith]

I thought it was cool what Feller did, but I thought the journalism was a bit sketchy - are they sure Feller is the oldest living member of the Hall? Bobby Doerr is still alive, right?

[Rich the Giants fan]

I thought it was cool what Feller did, but I thought the journalism was a bit sketchy - are they sure Feller is the oldest living member of the Hall? Bobby Doerr is still alive, right?

Good catch. Doerr, according to B-R.com, is still alive and almost 7 months older than Feller.

It was cool to see he could still get out there and toss the pill.

[KCGHOST]

Wouldn't that have been a treat of a game to go to??

[ol' aches and pains]

Any game at Doubleday Field is a treat, but yes, that one would have been special.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I saw Bob some years ago, probably in his 60s, threw a few pitches in an exhibition game in Buffalo NY. He was supposedly suffering from a bad cold, did not look good, it was a cold damp night. After the game a group ran down to the dugout, to speak with him. He said he wanted to shower, but he would come back. After waiting a little over half an hour, some left, thought he would be a no show.

He did come back and he stayed although not feeling good, spoke with us for over an hour. Interesting talk, lots to say about some specific at bats, him and Joe Dimaggio one on one. Seemed like a very patriotic guy, his time in the military seemed to rank with anything he did on the field. If I recall, he did not have to go, his father was suffering from terminal cancer at that time, he joined the navy and saw lots of action. He was one of the first MLB players to enlist a few days after Pearl Harbor.

Anyway, he impressed me, took time out for us, signed some balls and programs.
Some pitcher, loss time in the service, 3 no-hitters and 12 one hitters.

[ol' aches and pains]

I saw Bob some years ago, probably in his 60s, threw a few pitches in an exhibition game in Buffalo NY. He was supposedly suffering from a bad cold, did not look good, it was a cold damp night. After the game a group ran down to the dugout, to speak with him. He said he wanted to shower, but he would come back. After waiting a little over half an hour, some left, thought he would be a no show.

He did come back and he stayed although not feeling good, spoke with us for over an hour. Interesting talk, lots to say about some specific at bats, him and Joe Dimaggio one on one. Seemed like a very patriotic guy, his time in the military seemed to rank with anything he did on the field. If I recall, he did not have to go, his father was suffering from terminal cancer at that time, he joined the navy and saw lots of action. He was one of the first MLB players to enlist a few days after Pearl Harbor.

Anyway, he impressed me, took time out for us, signed some balls and programs.
Some pitcher, loss time in the service, 3 no-hitters and 12 one hitters.

Not only did Feller not have to go to the military, he didn't have to fight. He could have spent the war pitching exhibitions for the Navy baseball team, but he requested combat duty, and saw some heavy action aboard the USS Alabama.

[EdTarbusz]

Feller could have had two deferments: sole support of his family and working in an essential industry (farming).

Feller started out as mainly a pitcher in his Navy career, but pushed for a combat assignment. He shook my hand when I told him that I was also a Navy veteran.

[Mattingly]

Sorry if this was posted somewhere else, but I just saw this and thought it was the coolest thing I've seen in a while:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/06/22/feller/index.html
What, no pictures? Blasphemy! :D

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/baseball/mlb/06/22/feller/Bob-Feller.jpg
At 90, former Indians ace Bob Feller showed he
still has the stuff by pitching in Sunday's
old-timers game.

Not too far off from how he looked back then:

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/07/11/amd_1937asg.jpg
A 20-year-old Bob Feller (shown in a 1937
file photo) stymies the NL with 3-2/3
scoreless innings to earn an All-Star save.

Yankee Stadium All-Star Game Rewind: Feller Nips Rally Before 62,892 (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/07/10/2008-07-10_yankee_stadium_allstar_game_rewind_felle.html)
Originally published on Wednesday, July 12, 1939)

A 20-year-old Iowa farmboy ambled out of the bullpen, took one solemn look at the loaded bases, unleashed the lightning of his mighty right arm and promptly stilled the rumbling thunder of a sixth-inning National League storm which threatened to obliterate the American League starts. The hero was Bob Feller. When he hurled a white flash from his fingertips and Arky Vaughan bounced into the inning-ending double play, the National Leaguers collapsed completely.

They lost their fifth annual All-Star game in seven years by a score of 3-1.

Feller stayed on the sun-splashed mound in the diamond's center at Yankee Stadium to the end. He was cheered to the skies by an astounding turnout of 62,892 fans - biggest baseball attendance of the season!