Bob Feller
| Birthdate | 11/3/1918 |
| Death Date | 12/15/2010 |
| Debut Year | 1936 |
| Year of Induction | 1962 |
| Teams | Indians |
| Position | Pitcher |
A MLB pitcher by age 17, Bob Feller was a elected to the Hall in his first ballot. The Sporting News ranked him the 36th greatest pitcher of all time.
In the collection:
Scorecard and program from Bob Feller's 1946 no-hitter at Yankee Stadium
Scorecard and program from Bob Feller's 1946 no-hitter at Yankee Stadium
One of the game’s greatest pitchers, Bob Feller won 266 games despite missing four seasons of his prime in World War II. After reaching the big leagues at age 17, Feller hit the ground running. Rapid Robert won 107 games before the start of the war by averaging more than 23 wins per season from 1938-1941. Then with three consecutive 20-wins seasons, Feller left for the war. The 8-time all star then missed each of the next three seasons before returning for nine games in 1945. The following year, Feller was back to form, leading the league with 26 wins and a career-high 348 strikeouts. That same season, Feller threw the second of his three no-hitters. In the collection is a Yankee Stadium program and scorecard from that no-hit bid signed by Feller with a nice inscription.
Closeup of Feller's inscription on the 1946 program
Closeup of Feller's inscription on the 1946 program
Bob Feller has autographed this 1946 scorecard just below an ad for Chesterfield Cigarettes. “Jim this is the program from 4/30/46 the day I pitched the no-hitter against the Yankees. Enjoy, Bob Feller”. The 18-year Major League veteran reached the World Series only once, in 1948. Though he went 0-2 wit a 5.02 earned run average, the Indians beat the Boston Braves in six games.
Front and rear cover of Feller's no-hit scorecard
Front and rear cover of Feller's no-hit scorecard
The 1946 Yankee roster boasted six future Hall of Famers and a Cooperstown manager to boot. Bob Feller tamed that lineup striking out 11 without allowing a hit. Tough luck pitcher Bill Bevens pitched a gem for the Yankees scattering seven hits in the 1-0 loss. Interestingly, the Indians’ starting centerfielder that day was future Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Lemon.
Cy Young photo signed by Bob Feller
Cy Young photo signed by Bob Feller
Cy Young pitched from 1890-1911 and won 511 games. When Young died in 1955 baseball commissioner Ford Frick decided to annually honor the best pitcher in the big leagues with the Cy Young Award. From 1956-1966 one award was given for both leagues. In 1967 baseball switched gears and recognized one pitcher from each league. Shown here is an 8×10 photo of an aging Cy Young with Indians great Bob Feller. The Cleveland pitcher has signed his name over his uniform. Though he led the American League in wins six times and was clearly the best pitcher in his league in multiple seasons, timing prohibited Feller from winning the Cy Young Award. With his best years behind him, Feller pitched only in the first year the award was offered.
Feller and Jackie Robinson were the first players elected on their first ballot since the first five in 2936.