| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
A lesson we can all learn from Bob Feller
John H. Reid III, Photographer
 |
Gates Mills | OH | USA | Posted: 4:42 PM on 12.16.10 |
->> As most probably know by now, Bob Feller passed away yesterday at 92. Not only did I have the pleasure of seeing him many times at Indians games, for the past 5 years we lived in the same village in Ohio. He was a fixture at the Gates Mills 4th of July parade, and this past year my daughter and a friend got to walk with his car in the parade. He was very gracious, and his wife asked Margot to take a picture of them with a camera she gave to her, which made Margot nervous, but she rose to the challenge ;-) At the parade Feller always spoke of the importance to honor veterans (he himself volunteered the day after Pearl Harbor, and spent the duration of WW II in the Navy seeing significant combat.) He was 23 and had already won over 100 big league games when he entered the Navy.
Let's set aside his service, the fact that he was gracious to children, his HOF career and all that and learn from a story I heard on the radio today, thanks to Bob Dibiasio of the Indians.
In 1995 with the Indians on the verge of their first trip to the World Series, Feller flew out to the ALCS Seattle at his own expense in case his beloved Indians won. His seats were near the Indians dugout, and when the Tribe won the then 75 year old Feller hopped over the rail (about a 6 foot or so drop!) to join in the celebration. He was immediately stopped by security, unaware of who he was. Bobby D comes to the rescue, the security guards escort Feller to the field celebration, and what does Feller do? Does he big time them telling them he's been in the HOF for 33 years? Does he berate them for not knowing who he was? No, he whips out some baseball cards which he promptly signs for the security guards, then joins the Indians in celebration.
When Margot was asked to walk with Feller's car during the parade, she asked me to get her a Feller shirt to wear. At the parade he joked that he liked her shirt, and signed it for her. I was working that day, so when I got home she proudly showed me the shirt, and I told her, "You realize you're never wearing that shirt again." and she said, "Of course! Do you have a frame we can put in in?" which is where it resides today. |
|
Blaine McCartney, Photographer
|
Sheridan | WY | USA | Posted: 4:54 PM on 12.16.10 |
| ->> I had the pleasure to meet Bob Feller in his hometown of Van Meeter, Iowa at his museum. He cracked a joke the moment he walked when I met him. Funny guy and very gracious. Baseball lost of its true ambassadors. |
|
G.M. Andrews, Photographer
|
Mobile | AL | USA | Posted: 5:01 PM on 12.16.10 |
->> As John mentioned, Bob Feller served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He spent time aboard the U.S.S. Alabama, battleship that is now a memorial in Mobile.
In 1992, for the Alabama's 50th commissioning anniversary, the folks at Battleship Memorial Park held a ceremony that I covered for the newspaper.
Lots of former crewmen returned to lower Alabama to take part, including Mr. Feller. He stayed off to the side, not drawing any attention to himself. After the official program was over, he was of course recognized, but stayed and talked sea stories for quite a whille with old shipmates, posed for photos and signed many autographs, all with a smile on his face. I took a lot of photos that day of him reminiscing with his fellow veterans.
What a classy individual.
Godspeed, Rapid Robert. |
|
John H. Reid III, Photographer
|
John Tucker, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Cordova | TN | USA | Posted: 5:50 PM on 12.16.10 |
->> I did an autograph signing with Feller when I worked with a sports card company back min the 90's. He was just supposed to sign photos at the card set-up inside of a walmart store, but he brought his book and set it up squarely on the table. He was a loud guy, but had good interaction with the people. I was amazed at the way he would take time to talk to the "KIDS"....I say KIDS in caps because the story is all about the KIDS. He would talk with little Bobby or Johnny and ask about baseball.
I was thinking this guy loves kids and thought about how cool it was to see that from such a famous Indian.
After everything was signed, we cleared our table and spent a few minutes talking. I mentioned that I once saw him in an "old Timers" game. Feller said "yes, I used to do those events"....I then asked why he stopped......His reply nearly floored me...Feller said, "It got to where everyone would bring those F*(%#ing KIDS".....
That is how I remember the great Bob Feller! |
|
Jay LaPrete, Photographer
|
Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 7:38 PM on 12.16.10 |
| ->> I had the pleasure of Photographing Bob at the Indians Fantasy Camp here in Avondale, AZ in Jan 2008, I really enjoyed seeing someone his age playing and enjoying his sport like he did. |
|
Michael Fischer, Photographer
|
Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 10:10 AM on 12.17.10 |
->> It's truly wonderful that so many people feel the way the do about Bob Feller. He was Iowa's shinning star when it came to Iowans who played in the major leagues.
U.S. Senator Bob Harkin related a Bob Feller story yesterday on Iowa Public Radio. He described how he attended an event where Feller pitched. Harkin said the pitch "popped" when it hit the catcher's glove.
Harkin said this happened about 10 years ago. The guy still had it.
One other thing about Feller. With all the strikeouts, the 3 no hitters, and all the other accomplishments, it could have been even more had Feller not joined the service after Pearl Harbor and served for 4 years at the peak of his athletic capabilities.
Class act and a truly remarkable individual. We should all be so lucky as to be remembered that way.
RIP, Robert. You truly will be missed. |
|
John H. Reid III, Photographer
|
Gates Mills | OH | USA | Posted: 1:37 PM on 12.17.10 |
->> Obviously since I live in Cleveland I've been hearing a lot of Feller stories recently. Another fun one that came up today:
A talk show host and former Indians manager Mike Hargrove were at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and were in the office of the president of the HOF. It was the year that Nolan Ryan was inducted, and Feller, who relished his HOF enshrinement (who wouldn't?) came in the office (he was close with Hargrove, for one thing.) He asked why the Ryan plaque listed only his victory total, not his loss total as well. He was told that there wasn't room on the plaque to list the losses, what with fitting in the strikeouts, no-hitters, etc. Feller then said that was fine, but would like them to get a chisel and "hammer the &*$#ing losses off my plaque!" |
|
Dan Mendlik, Photographer
|
North Ridgeville | OH | USA | Posted: 6:15 PM on 12.17.10 |
->> At the end of the 2010 Indians Fantasy Camp, where at age 91, he threw off the pitchers mound to 30 campers I had he pleasure of walking thru the airport with Bob Feller. It amazed he how he was able to tell war stories like they happened only yesterday. He could tell a story.
Over the past 5 years I have had the pleasure of meeting, talking and photographing Bob Feller during countless events. He was an amazing man, held strong to his convictions and let you know how you felt.
Cleveland Indians baseball will never be the same. He will be missed. |
|
John H. Reid III, Photographer
|
Gates Mills | OH | USA | Posted: 6:42 PM on 12.17.10 |
| ->> Dan - Tony Rizzo pointed out on the radio today that Bob Feller had been involved with the Indians organization (we'll count the WW II time) for 75 years! |
|
Tom Szczerbowski, Photographer
|
London | ON | Canada | Posted: 7:52 PM on 12.17.10 |
->> I pulled this from Wikipedia :
Feller "registered an incredible 348 strikeouts while pitching in 48 games, starting 42 of those games . . . while pitching 36 complete games"
Wow ! Consider that this year's NL Cy Young winner, Roy Halladay, who is known as a workhorse, started only 33 games. Feller started 42 in 1946 and pitched 371.1 innings at a time when starting pitchers were expected to go the distance and did not reap the benefits of modern pharmacology, painkillers, and other advanced treatments used to quell arm and shoulder pain and prolong careers.
Mensch ! |
|
Blaine McCartney, Photographer
|
Sheridan | WY | USA | Posted: 10:36 PM on 12.17.10 |
->> "Wow ! Consider that this year's NL Cy Young winner, Roy Halladay, who is known as a workhorse, started only 33 games. Feller started 42 in 1946 and pitched 371.1 innings at a time when starting pitchers were expected to go the distance and did not reap the benefits of modern pharmacology, painkillers, and other advanced treatments used to quell arm and shoulder pain and prolong careers."
If any of you like to read about baseball, I would recommend Feller's book, "The Little Blue Book of Baseball Wisdom". It's a good read as he details his workout regiment (basically farm work and throwing every day, especially with his father) and talks about other things like his military service. He also has another book called, "The Little Black Book of Baseball Wisdom" which I have yet to read. |
|
Dan Mendlik, Photographer
|
North Ridgeville | OH | USA | Posted: 1:10 PM on 12.18.10 |
| ->> John-I only have 61 more years to go and I can match him! |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|