Bob Feller: An American Icon.

[hatvol96]

It has long been my opinion that Feller is among the most underappreciated greats in the game's history. His combined number of no hitters and one hitters is staggering. Further, he gave up three prime years of his career to fight for his country in WWII. He and the rest of the stars of his generation who valued servivce over personal glory will always hold a special place in the baseball pantheon.

 

[JTrainDavis]

One of the last ties to the Golden Age of baseball, sad to hear.

 

[NYYVol]

Came here to post this.
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[BigPapaVol]

People don't appreciate guys like Feller. By all accounts, he could flat bring it. I was lucky enough to spend some time around an old school Hall of Famer and he said Koufax and Feller were the best two that he ever saw throw.

 

[Vol_til_I_die]

He was definitely a dang good Feller. One of the game's greats.
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[TennesseeFan07]

RIP, Bob.

 

[Co. Aytch]

A gentlemen of the game. Not only a great player, but was always a pleasure to meet at cardshows. Wish I coulda seen the games when he was barnstorming with Satchel Paige back in the day.
R.I.P.

 

[Vercingetorix]

From everything I've ever read, the oldtimers were always unanimous that Feller threw harder than Ryan. Which means he threw harder than anybody.

This piece by Frank Deford is great reading:
Like his legendary heater, Bob Feller comes at you fast - 08.08.05 - SI Vault

 

[JTrainDavis]

Big Train even?

 

[Ohio Vol]

From everything I've ever read, the oldtimers were always unanimous that Feller threw harder than Ryan. Which means he threw harder than anybody.

This piece by Frank Deford is great reading:
Like his legendary heater, Bob Feller comes at you fast - 08.08.05 - SI Vault

Yeah....I think that's just oldtimers being oldtimers. "Everything was better back in my day! I saw Slappy Finkelstein pitch a 42-inning shutout, hitting over 120 MPH every pitch, then do it the next day on nothing but a Budweiser, two thimbles full of castor oil, and horse liniment!"

No doubt Feller could hit triple digits; breakdowns of old films bear this out. But to decisively say that he threw harder than Ryan....I don't buy.

Big Train even?

Similar analysis was done on the Big Train, and it's basically the same. He could hit triple digits, but not to any Sidd Finch extent. The funny thing is that when Feller was on top of his game, all of those oldtimers said that Feller was nothing compared to Johnson. And I'm sure when Johnson was in his prime, the retired players said that Cy Young threw harder, and when Young was in his prime it was....I don't know, Monte Ward.

 

[volfan2024]

I know I'm late posting but I saw Bob Fellar at a Nashville Sounds game years ago. A very jovial person! My Detroit father in laws hero although I don' thinkt he played for the Tigers.