Hall of Famer Bob Feller in hospice

[Wite3]

My Feller story...(seems like everyone has one)...

About 10 years ago I was at a spring training game in Tuscon, AZ and was sitting behind two guys who were clocking the pitcher and keeping score. I struck up a conversation with them and it turned out the one keeping score was Chico Carrasquel. The other was a minor league scout who would call out the pitch speed, location, and type to Chico. We were just talking baseball and the pitcher threw a fastball that sailed in high and tight. Before the scout could even say the speed, the guy behind me says..."only about 90 and he needs to push off his back leg more"...I turn around and there is Feller. My jaw drops and spend the next three innings talking to him and listening to him describe his pitches and the new pitchers and baseball in general. It was a great afternoon.

Fast forward to three months later and I am at a show and Feller is signing. I walk up to him and say hello and before I can say anything else, he asks if I want my signature made out to "Josh or Joshua?" I was floored that he remembered me, much less my name!

Been a Feller fan ever since. A true Great (yes, capital G!). I wish him and his family all the best.

Joshua

[Jayworld]

What a great man and great pitcher! I grew up liking Mr. Feller through my dad, as my dad grew up in the 1940s and Bob was his favorite pitcher and player, and Cleveland was his favorite team, as it was the closest AL team to Texas (my dad did not count the Browns, evidently

We finally got a chance to meet Bob and his wife in person at an Equitable Old Timers game in Arlington back in the mid-1980s. What a wonderful experience to be with my dad as he met his "idol" from childhood. They spoke a long time, especially about the Navy, as my dad served in Korea.

This past July, while on a family driving vacation up north for the first time, we stopped off at the Bob Feller museum in Van Meter. What an experience! Two hours flew by looking over the exhibits and speaking with the nice older lady who runs the museum. I was able to purchase a signed museum Louisville Slugger Bat, signed ball, signed copy of Bob Feller's Black Book, and a seat slat from Cleveland's Municipal Stadium signed by the remaining four members of the 1948 championship team.

I would highly recommend to anyone on the forum to stop by the museum if they get a chance and purchase a copy of his Black Book, as Mr. Feller offers great insight to baseball and to life.

[Rob D.]

In the late 1970s when I was in high school, I had a table with two collecting friends at a small, monthly show at the Nazir Grotto Hall in Canton, Ohio. One Sunday as we were setting up our stuff, we noticed an older gentleman who we'd not seen at the show before talking with the promoter. The only thing the new guy was carrying was a briefcase.

After he paid his table fee, he walked over to his spot, sat down, opened the briefcase and removed two things: a homemade sign that read "Autographs $3" and a stack of 8 x 10 photos. It was Bob Feller, and he did enough business that day to return the next month.

This is a blog entry I wrote for Mike DeNero's Vintage Sportscards about how much fun those smaller, local shows were:

http://mdsportscards.blogspot.com/20...gust-2010.html

[slidekellyslide]

I always bristled at the notion that autograph collectors thought that Feller signed too many autographs. If that's a fault then I wish all major leaguers had that fault.

[Ohio_Collectibles]

I've met Bob Feller several times. I've never had a positive experience with him. He's always come off as an arogant, self-absorbed idiot. I was at a mall show in Cleveland in the late 80's where Bob Feller was signing for two hours. You had to purchase tickets ($15) for the event in advance. A line quickly formed when Feller arrived. I ended up near the end of the line. For two hours, I listened to a father and his two sons (6 & 8) talk about how much they loved Mr. Feller. The kids had watched old tapes of Bobs games and talked about his throw, how much they admired him, how great he was, etc. Two hours I sat and listened to them talk. I got to Mr Feller and handed him my 8x10 and he signed it and then looked at his watch. He stood up and said, Time's up. Goodbye everyone and began to walk away. The 6 year old burst into tears. The 8 year old looked at his dad trying not to cry and asked why Mr. Feller was leaving. The dad told the kid, Times up, he has to go. There were about 12 people still left in the line. A guard put a sign on the table "No Refunds" and walked away. The 8 year old ran off after Mr. Feller yelling, "Mr. Feller, Mr. Feller, would you please sign one more for my little brother." Bob stopped, turned around, looked at the kid and said "I'll be at the X Mall show next weekend. Tell your dad to buy you another ticket" and walked away. I handed the kid my 8x10 and told him that it meant more to him than me. I lost all respect for Mr. Feller that day.

I've had a few other experiences with Mr. Feller since then, none of them positive. I can't stand the man and I will NEVER own a Bob Feller piece in my personal collection.

~OC

[Ohio_Collectibles]

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[yanksfan09]

I wish him the best. If it is his time I hope he doesn't have much pain. Hopefully he'll pull through. I met him once at a minor league game when he was signing. I was about 15 or 16 and he was gracious enough to sign about 8 things for me and take a picture with him all free of charge. He was very friendly and warm and seemed to like seeing a younger kid like me that was excited to see him and have such an interest in the game. It was fun meeting with him and chatting briefly. I wish him luck.

[jp1216]

Sorry to hear that story from the '80s signing... But after reading one or two Feller books, it sounded like he went through some tough times. Maybe he had a disagreement with the guy running the signing and threatened to walk out right on time - and had to back it up. I'll reserve my Feller stories for another day. Best wishes Bob!

[esd10]

Not just a great ball player but a great man.

[kcohen]

Inevitable yet very sad. Mr. Feller threw out the first pitch at the inauguration of the Alexandria, VA little league (where I played) in 1952. He returned and did the same for the 50th anniversary in 2002. My highlight moment with him was talking about those events a couple of years ago. He appears to have lived a full and wonderful life. We wish that such men could go on forever. God bless him.

[Brian Van Horn]

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