Notable people · Sports
Bob Feller
Iowa-born pitcher who spent his entire 18-season career (1936-56) with the Cleveland Indians. He threw three no-hitters and entered the Hall of Fame in 1962.
At a glance
- Born
- 1918-11-03
- Died
- 2010-12-15
- Education
- Van Meter High School, Van Meter, IA
- Known as
- Sports
- Organizations
- Cleveland Indians
Life story
Bob Feller was born in Van Meter, Iowa, in 1918 and never went to college or played in the minors. Indians scout Cy Slapnicka signed him in 1936 for a dollar and an autographed ball, and he debuted with Cleveland on July 19, 1936, at 17.
He struck out 18 in a game in 1938, threw the only Opening Day no-hitter in major league history on April 20, 1940, and added more no-hitters later. He volunteered for the Navy two days after Pearl Harbor and served on the USS Alabama from 1942 to 1945.
He won the 1948 World Series with Cleveland, was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1962, and had number 19 retired in 1956. He died in Cleveland on December 15, 2010.
Timeline
- 1936-07-19: MLB debut with Cleveland at age 17 (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1938-10-02: Strikes out 18 in a game (US) source
- 1940-04-20: Opening Day no-hitter (Chicago, IL) source
- 1941-12-09: Volunteers for the Navy (US) source
- 1943-01: Marries Virginia Winther (US) source
- 1948-10: Wins World Series with Cleveland (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1951-07-01: Third career no-hitter (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1956-12-27: Indians retire number 19 (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1962: Elected to Hall of Fame on first ballot (Cooperstown, NY) source
- 2010-12-15: Dies at 92 (Cleveland, OH) source
What Bob is known for
- Three no-hitters (1940, 1946, 1951)
- Hall of Fame 1962 on first ballot; Indians retired number 19 in 1956
- Enlisted in the Navy days after Pearl Harbor, missing nearly four seasons
- Three no-hitters; only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history
Honors and things named for them
- Hall of Fame, 1962
- Indians retired #19, 1956
- Bob Feller Act of Valor Award (2013)
- Bob Feller Pitching Award (American Legion Baseball)
Family
- wife: Virginia Winther (m. 1943, div. 1971)
- wife: Anne Thorpe (m. 1974)
- sons: Steve, Martin and Bruce
Ohio places
Where Bob Feller was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Worked: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44114 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.
- Bob Feller (Wikipedia) born Van Meter IA, died Cleveland, no-hitters, HOF 1962
- Bob Feller (National Baseball Hall of Fame) debut 1936, three no-hitters, died Cleveland 2010-12-15, HOF 1962