Bob Feller (1962)


Date of Birth: 11/3/1918
Date of Death: 12/15/2010
Birthplace: Van Meter, Iowa

Bob Feller first learned how to pitch from his father who created a "Field of Dreams" for his son on their Iowa farm. His major league baseball career started when he signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1936.

Cleveland Indians

Feller played in 14 games with the Indians in 1936, bypassing the usual minor league training. In 1937, he pitched in 26 games and had a 3.39 ERA and 9 wins and 7 losses in 148.2 innings. He had control issues, walking 106 batters and striking out 150.

Feller led the AL in strikeouts in 1938. He had 17 wins and 11 losses, 240 strikeouts to 208 walks, and a 4.08 ERA in 277.2 innings in 39 games. The next year, he again led the league in strikeouts with 246 (to 142 walks). He also led the league in wins (24 to 9 losses), innings pitched (296.2 in 39 games), and complete games (24). He had a 2.85 ERA in 1939.

In 1940, Feller won the American League Triple Crown and the Sporting News Major League Player of the Year award. He led the AL in wins, strikeouts, ERA, innings pitched, and complete games. He had a career high 27 wins to 11 losses, 261 strikeouts to 118 walks, and a 2.61 ERA in 320.1 innings in 43 games. He pitched 31 complete games.

Feller again led the AL in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched in 1941. He had 25 wins and 13 losses, 260 strikeouts to 194 walks, and a 3.15 ERA in 343.0 innings in 44 games.

Feller's professional baseball career was interrupted for World War II from 1942-1944, during which time he served in a combat unit. When he returned to the Indians in 1945, he played in just 9 games and he had a 2.50 ERA. The next year, he picked up where he left off, once again leading the AL in wins, innings pitched, and complete games. In 1946, he had career highs in games played (48), innings pitched (371.1), and strikeouts (348 to 153 walks). He had 26 wins and 15 losses and a career low ERA of 2.18. He pitched 36 complete games that year.

In 1947, Feller again led the AL in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. He had 20 wins and 11 losses, 196 strikeouts to 127 walks, and a 2.68 ERA in 299.0 innings in 42 games.

Feller had 19 wins and 15 losses in 44 games in 1948. His ERA jumped up to 3.56. He pitched 280.1 innings and he struck out 164 batters and walked 116.

Feller struggled in 1949 and 1950, finishing with a 3.75 ERA in 1949, and a 3.43 ERA the next year. He had a better season in 1951, leading the AL in wins with 22 (to 8 losses). He was named the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year that season even though his ERA was 3.50 and he walked 95 batters and struck out only 111.

Feller struggled again in 1952, finishing with a 4.74 ERA and 9 wins and 13 losses in 30 games. He pitched in just 191.2 innings that year. He had control issues, walking more players than he struck out (83 walks to 81 strikeouts). He improved in 1953, when he pitched in 25 games. He had 10 wins and 7 losses and a 3.59 ERA.

In 1954, Feller pitched in just 19 games, but he pitched better than he had in the previous two seasons. He had 13 wins and 3 losses, 59 strikeouts to 39 walks, and a 3.09 ERA in 140.0 innings.

Feller pitched in 11 games as a starter and 14 games of relief in 1955. He finished the season with a 3.47 ERA in 83.0 innings. He was a starter in just 4 games in 1956, his last season in the major leagues. He pitched as a reliever in 15 games and he had a 4.97 ERA in 58.0 innings.

Awards and MLB Records

  • AL Triple Crown
  • Sporting News Pitcher of the Year
  • Sporting News Major League Player of the Year
  • Led AL in wins (6 times)
  • Led AL in strikeouts (5 times)
  • Led AL in innings pitched (5 times)
  • Led AL in complete games (3 times)

Career Statistics

Statistics for Feller in 18 seasons (1936-1941, 1945-1956) in the major leagues include:

  • 6 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 27 in 1940
  • 5 seasons with over 200 strikeouts, with a high of 348 in 1946
  • 5 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 2.18 in 1946

Career pitching statistics for Feller include:

  • 570 games played
  • 3,827.0 innings pitched
  • 266-162 win-loss record
  • 2,581 strikeouts to 1,764 walks
  • 3.25 ERA

Post Playing Career

Feller became president of the MLB Players' Association in 1956.

In June, 2009, at the age of 90, he was a starting pitcher in the Baseball Hall of Fame Classic game. He died a year and a half later, on December 15, 2010, of complications from leukemia.

Feller was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962 on the first ballot with 93.8% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Bob Feller
ESPN - Bob Feller
Baseball Reference - Bob Feller

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