Sunday, May 16, 2004
The Macon Telegraph | 05/16/2004 | Baseball Hall of FamerFeller discusses current events at Sports Hall
Baseball Hall of FamerFeller discusses current events at Sports Hall
By Mike Donila
Telegraph Staff Writer
Holding court to a line that always appeared to be at least 30 people deep, baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller told tales from his past, including his decision to enlist in the military two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
As a way to honor Armed Forces Day, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame invited the former Cleveland Indians pitcher to Macon to discuss baseball, current events and the military.
Often dubbed the "Pat Tillman of his day" because he enlisted in the military during the prime of his career, Feller spent more than three hours Saturday night signing autographs and later answering questions from an enthusiastic crowd.
"That guy is a real patriot, a winner in every way," said Bubba Wall, a former U.S. Marine who served in the Korean War.
When Feller was 23, he enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 9, 1941 - two days after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. During his four years in the service, Feller served mostly as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the U.S.S. Alabama, coming out a highly decorated war veteran. He received eight battle stars.
In 1945, he rejoined the Cleveland Indians, regaining his dominance as one of baseball's best right-handed pitchers and went on to secure a career total 266 wins and eight All-Star appearances.
Based on his yearly baseball record, which includes six 20-game or more victories, Feller most likely would have won 300 games, possibly 400. Only 20 major league pitchers have ever won 300 or more games, and only two have won 400 or more.
In 1962, the blistering fast-ball pitcher, often dubbed "Bullet Bob," was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Now 85, Feller spends his time championing the military, promoting baseball and visiting veterans' hospitals across the country.
Although many on Saturday called him a hero, he downplayed the compliments.
"I'm no hero. We lost 406,000 Americans in World War II. They are the heroes. I'm a survivor," said Feller, who pitched for Cleveland from 1936-41 and from 1945-56. "There are two different types of soldiers - those who survive and the heroes. The survivors come here. The heroes don't."
Believed to be the first professional athlete to volunteer for military duty, Feller praised Pat Tillman, citing him as an example of a hero.
Tillman, a three-year safety with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, enlisted in the U.S. Army in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Turning down a $3.6 million contract, he completed training for the Army Rangers in late 2002 and was assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Wash.
He was deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but later transferred to Afghanistan, where he was killed in action April 22.
Tillman, who was 27, was posthumously promoted to the enlisted rank of corporal.
During an hourlong speech Saturday, Feller discussed his old teammates and those he played against, but the topic always came back to the military and why people should pay more attention to history.
"We should teach more American history in our schools. So many students nowadays are looking out the windows when they are being taught," he said. "Freedom is not free. It costs a lot."
The Macon event drew an older crowd, many of whom attended to get autographs for their grandchildren and meet the man they watched growing up as children.
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," said Steve Humphry of Byron who attended with his wife, Marlene. "He took the time to talk to each person individually. You couldn't ask for more."
Jan Frost, a Macon grandmother who got an autograph for her 10-year-old grandson, said she would tell her grandson Feller's story.
"He left baseball to serve his country and I find that most impressive," she said. "I was around then, and I was proud of all the men who left their professions to go overseas."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseball Hall of FamerFeller discusses current events at Sports Hall
By Mike Donila
Telegraph Staff Writer
Holding court to a line that always appeared to be at least 30 people deep, baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller told tales from his past, including his decision to enlist in the military two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
As a way to honor Armed Forces Day, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame invited the former Cleveland Indians pitcher to Macon to discuss baseball, current events and the military.
Often dubbed the "Pat Tillman of his day" because he enlisted in the military during the prime of his career, Feller spent more than three hours Saturday night signing autographs and later answering questions from an enthusiastic crowd.
"That guy is a real patriot, a winner in every way," said Bubba Wall, a former U.S. Marine who served in the Korean War.
When Feller was 23, he enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 9, 1941 - two days after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. During his four years in the service, Feller served mostly as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the U.S.S. Alabama, coming out a highly decorated war veteran. He received eight battle stars.
In 1945, he rejoined the Cleveland Indians, regaining his dominance as one of baseball's best right-handed pitchers and went on to secure a career total 266 wins and eight All-Star appearances.
Based on his yearly baseball record, which includes six 20-game or more victories, Feller most likely would have won 300 games, possibly 400. Only 20 major league pitchers have ever won 300 or more games, and only two have won 400 or more.
In 1962, the blistering fast-ball pitcher, often dubbed "Bullet Bob," was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Now 85, Feller spends his time championing the military, promoting baseball and visiting veterans' hospitals across the country.
Although many on Saturday called him a hero, he downplayed the compliments.
"I'm no hero. We lost 406,000 Americans in World War II. They are the heroes. I'm a survivor," said Feller, who pitched for Cleveland from 1936-41 and from 1945-56. "There are two different types of soldiers - those who survive and the heroes. The survivors come here. The heroes don't."
Believed to be the first professional athlete to volunteer for military duty, Feller praised Pat Tillman, citing him as an example of a hero.
Tillman, a three-year safety with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, enlisted in the U.S. Army in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Turning down a $3.6 million contract, he completed training for the Army Rangers in late 2002 and was assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Wash.
He was deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but later transferred to Afghanistan, where he was killed in action April 22.
Tillman, who was 27, was posthumously promoted to the enlisted rank of corporal.
During an hourlong speech Saturday, Feller discussed his old teammates and those he played against, but the topic always came back to the military and why people should pay more attention to history.
"We should teach more American history in our schools. So many students nowadays are looking out the windows when they are being taught," he said. "Freedom is not free. It costs a lot."
The Macon event drew an older crowd, many of whom attended to get autographs for their grandchildren and meet the man they watched growing up as children.
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," said Steve Humphry of Byron who attended with his wife, Marlene. "He took the time to talk to each person individually. You couldn't ask for more."
Jan Frost, a Macon grandmother who got an autograph for her 10-year-old grandson, said she would tell her grandson Feller's story.
"He left baseball to serve his country and I find that most impressive," she said. "I was around then, and I was proud of all the men who left their professions to go overseas."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
