A Reflection on Bob Feller

Last night, Bob Feller died at 9:15 of acute leukemia at the age of 92. He had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia, and had been released into hospice care earlier in the month. Despite his deteriorating health, Feller still went to Indians games late in the 2010 season, made himself available for interviews, and saying what he thought - even if it wasn't the politically correct thing to do.

Over a career that started when he was 17, Feller won 266 games, struck out 2,581 batters, threw three no-hitters (including the only no-hitter thrown on Opening Day in 1940), and twelve one-hitters. All this, despite missing almost four full seasons of his prime due to enlisting in World War 2 in the United States Navy.

The thing was, he didn't have to go to war then. He had a deferment - he was caring for his sick father. However, neither that nor the fact that he had, at the time, one of the richest contracts in baseball, would stop him from doing what he felt was right. When asked about this decision in an interview, he screamed into the phone, "We were losing a war, a big war, we were losing big in the Pacific … any red-blooded American with a gut in his body would have gotten busy." The former anti-aircraft gunner screamed again: "We took back the Pacific. I can look anyone in the eye and say, 'I was there.'" His service aboard the USS Alabama earned him eight battle stars.

He never had any regrets about enlisting and missing those prime years of his career. Despite the fact that it kept him from 300 wins and 3000 strikeouts, he said "I've never once thought about all the prime years that I missed. I did what I had to do for my country. We won that war. I'm as proud of serving as anything I've ever done in my life."

Feller was also notoriously dismissive of the accomplishments of modern day baseball players. For example, when asked about Stephen Strasburg after he defeated the Indians earlier this season, he said "Check back with me when he's won 100 games." It doesn't matter that the writer was looking for a basic complimentary quote - this was Bob Feller he was speaking to, and he would hear what Bob Feller thought.

Feller also loved his legacy and his place in history, and would not let you forget who he was. He used to tour the country putting on pitching exhibitions in minor league ballparks. He was in his 60s and still pitching, usually against media members that covered the local minor league teams. Those that batted against Feller received a certificate that acknowledged stating, in large print at the bottom of the certificate, was: "The aforementioned slugger realized that if he had faced Mr. Feller in his prime, the results would have been different," as if a writer that batted against him in 1980 actually thought he would have had any chance against him in 1940. It didn't matter what they thought, he wanted everyone to realize that he was one of the greats. And if you did step up to the plate against him, he would come after you with whatever he had. The fire competitive fires he had as a rocket armed youngster still burned even in his 80's.

Bob Feller was a true original, a great ambassador for baseball, and a living memory of what the game and players were like in the bygone days of the 1930's, 40's and 50's. His legacy, both as a baseball player and as a person, was perhaps even greater than he realized. He took time to speak with the fans, to support his team, and to do and say what he felt was right up until the end. And that, the passing of someone with such a different perspective of life, is the biggest loss of all.