OT: RIP Bob Feller

[Batter67up]

I was lucky to meet him in July this year and get his autograph in person. He was very nice! He was probably the last living HOFer that played in the 30's. RIP Mr. Feller.

[canjond]

Originally Posted by Batter67up

I was lucky to meet him in July this year and get his autograph in person. He was very nice! He was probably the last living HOFer that played in the 30's. RIP Mr. Feller.

I met Feller many times and I'll always remember that the best way to warm Bob up was to ask him about his antique farm tractor collection. No matter what mood he was in, a smile would come to his face and you were stuck... for 30 minutes or more while he described his newest acquisitions! RIP Bob.

Steve - Bobby Doerr is still with us.

[MacDice]

Very sad indeed. Another link to the golden age of baseball is gone.

[gashouse34]

Originally Posted by MacDice

Very sad indeed. Another link to the golden age of baseball is gone.

Well said, RIP Rapid Robert

[Rich Klein]

1) That 48 Years for Feller being a HOFer is very impressive

2) There are 3 people who spent more than 1/2 of their lives as a HOFer

Bob Feller; Joe DiMaggio and Sandy Koufax

3) With Feller's passing -- Stan Musial (age 90) is the only living member of the HOF enshrined in the 1960's

Regards
Rich

[Peter_Spaeth]

He not only missed 4 years for WWII, but he was also basically done early, by age 35. Yet still managed to win 266 games, mostly squeezed into 10 very productive years.

[Matt]

[fkw]

[PowderedH2O]

In 1988 there was a huge card show in Arlington, Texas and I lived there at the time. I had about $10 to work with, so I just avoided the show which really depressed me. My wife, daughter and I went to the mall that Sunday to just kill some time. As we strolled through the mall, I see a big baseball display with two guys sitting there. As we get closer, it is Bob Feller and Lew Burdette. They are sitting there alone, since all of the baseball memorabilia collectors are at the show, not at the mall across the street. So, I run into a Woolworth's and buy a baseball and some index cards and start talking to the guys and getting them to sign stuff. Bob Feller was sitting in a rocking chair and when my young daughter (1 and 1/2 at the time) starting getting fussy, he rocked her to sleep. I wouldn't have traded that moment for autographs from every big star at the show. Rapid Robert spent an hour rocking my kid and telling me all about his life and listening to me tell him about mine. What a class act.

We lost a great one. Rest in peace Mr Feller. You deserve it.

Sam

[jboosted92]

Originally Posted by PowderedH2O

In 1988 there was a huge card show in Arlington, Texas and I lived there at the time. I had about $10 to work with, so I just avoided the show which really depressed me. My wife, daughter and I went to the mall that Sunday to just kill some time. As we strolled through the mall, I see a big baseball display with two guys sitting there. As we get closer, it is Bob Feller and Lew Burdette. They are sitting there alone, since all of the baseball memorabilia collectors are at the show, not at the mall across the street. So, I run into a Woolworth's and buy a baseball and some index cards and start talking to the guys and getting them to sign stuff. Bob Feller was sitting in a rocking chair and when my young daughter (1 and 1/2 at the time) starting getting fussy, he rocked her to sleep. I wouldn't have traded that moment for autographs from every big star at the show. Rapid Robert spent an hour rocking my kid and telling me all about his life and listening to me tell him about mine. What a class act.

We lost a great one. Rest in peace Mr Feller. You deserve it.

Sam

Fantastic story, thanks for sharing

[kcohen]

Among the greatest of the Greatest Generation. It was truly a privilege to meet him. RIP

[Ladder7]

Feller frequently pitched exhibition games against famed Negro Leagues hurler Satchel Paige. The two traveled on barnstorming tours during the off-season, entertaining fans all over the country. Feller was one of the first MLB players to include Negro Leagues players in his tours. He championed the election of Paige to the Hall of Fame.

Speaks volumes.

[jboosted92]

Originally Posted by PowderedH2O

In 1988 there was a huge card show in Arlington, Texas and I lived there at the time. I had about $10 to work with, so I just avoided the show which really depressed me. My wife, daughter and I went to the mall that Sunday to just kill some time. As we strolled through the mall, I see a big baseball display with two guys sitting there. As we get closer, it is Bob Feller and Lew Burdette. They are sitting there alone, since all of the baseball memorabilia collectors are at the show, not at the mall across the street. So, I run into a Woolworth's and buy a baseball and some index cards and start talking to the guys and getting them to sign stuff. Bob Feller was sitting in a rocking chair and when my young daughter (1 and 1/2 at the time) starting getting fussy, he rocked her to sleep. I wouldn't have traded that moment for autographs from every big star at the show. Rapid Robert spent an hour rocking my kid and telling me all about his life and listening to me tell him about mine. What a class act.

We lost a great one. Rest in peace Mr Feller. You deserve it.

Sam

Fantastic story, thanks for sharing

[Tim Zwick]

Great story Sam.

I had the good fortune to have my table right next to Mr. Feller and his wife at the 1986 National Convention in Arlington. He would sign anything for collectors for either $2 or $3 bucks if my memory serves correctly. While there have been many great memories from the fifteen or twenty nationals I set up at, none top being able to sit and talk to an American hero about life and baseball for an entire weekend. The national pastime & country have lost one of it's finest - rest in peace Bob.

[ls7plus]

I had the chance to meet him in Winter Haven during a spring training game about 15 years ago, when the Indians trained there. His was the first baseball autograph I ever got (not my primary field of interest, although I ultimately actually flew to Atlantic City to get Willie Mays' in the late '90's). Feller was truly a class act, very friendly and willing to chat for a while, as long as there weren't others waiting for his 'graph. Truly an American patriot and an upper-echelon Hall of Famer, in my opinion. He probably would have approached 350 wins had he not given up four years of his career to enlist. Ironically, I got his autograph on impulse, considering his status and my feeling then that he wasn't likely to be around much longer (LOL!).
I have his 1936-1937 R314, which depicts him warming up at Fenway Park. When looking at it, it always brings to mind the thought that he came up to the majors at seventeen, set some magnificant strikeout records, and then went back to finish high school! RIP, Rapid Robert; you'll always be among the best of the best!

[David W]

Originally Posted by canjond

I met Feller many times and I'll always remember that the best way to warm Bob up was to ask him about his antique farm tractor collection. No matter what mood he was in, a smile would come to his face and you were stuck... for 30 minutes or more while he described his newest acquisitions! RIP Bob.

Steve - Bobby Doerr is still with us.

My father was not a big sports fan, but being from Cleveland, and retiring from Caterpillar Tractor, when Cat put this card set out in 1993, he bought it for me for Christmas because Bob Feller was in it.

[Rich Klein]

Only Bobby Doerr and Stan Musial are left amongst HOFers who were in the majors before America entered WW2

Rich

[Rickyy]

Sad to hear of his passing... he was always friendly and courteous to fans at shows... my dad saw him when he lived in Berea, Ohio and said Rapid Bob had a cannon for an arm!

[SteveMitchell]

Although I knew him only a little, I will miss him a lot. Others have said it here and on other blogs the past couple of days. Bob Feller was a great American as well as a Hall of Fame pitcher. For my money, he was simply The Best.

[Clutch-Hitter]

[JLange]

You can't help but collect Bob Feller if you collect the tribe. Some of my favorites...

[leaflover]

"that's the way"

[Big Six]

the greatest Hall of Famer I ever met...

[rc4157]

Met him once, like many of you, at a card show.
(Here facing Joe D. during a no-hitter)