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Now Pitching: Bob Feller
Bob Feller offers an in-depth account of his career with the Cleveland Indians, comparing baseball of the past with the game today and discussing fellow players
231 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1991
2 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Bob Feller
19 books2 followersRobert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010), nicknamed "The Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert", was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians. Feller pitched from 1936 to 1941 and from 1945 to 1956, interrupted by a four-year engagement in the United States Navy. In a career spanning 570 games, Feller pitched 3,827 innings and posted a win–loss record of 266–162, with 279 complete games, 44 shutouts, and a 3.25 earned run average (ERA).
A prodigy who bypassed baseball's minor leagues, Feller first played for the Indians at the age of 17. His career was interrupted by four years of military service in World War II, during which time he served as Chief Petty Officer aboard USS Alabama. Feller became the first pitcher to win 24 games in a season before the age of 21. During his career, he threw no-hitters in 1940, 1946, and 1951. Feller also recorded 12 one-hitters (his no-hitters and one-hitters were records at the time of his retirement). He helped the Indians win a World Series title in 1948 and an American League-record 111 wins and the pennant in 1954. Feller led the American League in wins six times and in strikeouts seven times. In 1946, he recorded 348 strikeouts, a total not exceeded for 19 years. An eight-time All-Star, Feller was ranked 36th on Sporting News's list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was named the publication's "greatest pitcher of his time". He was a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Ted Williams called Feller "the fastest and best pitcher I ever saw during my career." Hall of Famer Stan Musial believed he was "probably the greatest pitcher of our era." He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, on his first ballot appearance; at the time, only three players had ever had a higher percentage of ballot votes. He was elected the inaugural President of the Major League Baseball Players' Association and participated in barnstorm exhibition games which featured players from both the Major and Negro leagues. Feller died at the age of 92 in 2010.
A prodigy who bypassed baseball's minor leagues, Feller first played for the Indians at the age of 17. His career was interrupted by four years of military service in World War II, during which time he served as Chief Petty Officer aboard USS Alabama. Feller became the first pitcher to win 24 games in a season before the age of 21. During his career, he threw no-hitters in 1940, 1946, and 1951. Feller also recorded 12 one-hitters (his no-hitters and one-hitters were records at the time of his retirement). He helped the Indians win a World Series title in 1948 and an American League-record 111 wins and the pennant in 1954. Feller led the American League in wins six times and in strikeouts seven times. In 1946, he recorded 348 strikeouts, a total not exceeded for 19 years. An eight-time All-Star, Feller was ranked 36th on Sporting News's list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was named the publication's "greatest pitcher of his time". He was a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Ted Williams called Feller "the fastest and best pitcher I ever saw during my career." Hall of Famer Stan Musial believed he was "probably the greatest pitcher of our era." He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, on his first ballot appearance; at the time, only three players had ever had a higher percentage of ballot votes. He was elected the inaugural President of the Major League Baseball Players' Association and participated in barnstorm exhibition games which featured players from both the Major and Negro leagues. Feller died at the age of 92 in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 11, 2019
A decent autobiography on former great pitcher Bob Feller. Gets right to the point and talks about his baseball career from basically page one. Not much about personal life before and after his MLB career but games and seasons very detailed. Good stuff. Written okay.
July 16, 2018
Bob Feller was an extraordinary hurler, one of the best in MLB history and perhaps even somewhat underrated, if that is possible for a HOF inductee. I had the honor and privilege to meet and visit briefly with Mr. Feller on three separate occasions. He was a spirited and tough individual, qualities that surely served him well in his career.
The distinct, proud personality of the man appears fairly frequently in the book, but perhaps not enough. Feller had an incredible memory and strong opinions. The book could have and should have contained many more of Feller's tales from his long and storied time on the mound, in the clubhouse, on the train, etc. Instead we are left at times with a pattern of rote year by year individual and team statistics. Most readers of the book are familiar enough with Feller's statistical and in the flesh brilliance. The space for by-the-numbers recall could have been much better served with more great stories from Feller's pinpoint recollections.
Feller was a fascinating man in the game, on and off the field. It was co-author Bill Gilbert's responsibility to bring Feller's character and stories to the printed page in a baseball biography that could have stood as one of the best ever. This is indeed a 'good read' but falls short of what was an attainable 'complete game victory', in my opinion.
The distinct, proud personality of the man appears fairly frequently in the book, but perhaps not enough. Feller had an incredible memory and strong opinions. The book could have and should have contained many more of Feller's tales from his long and storied time on the mound, in the clubhouse, on the train, etc. Instead we are left at times with a pattern of rote year by year individual and team statistics. Most readers of the book are familiar enough with Feller's statistical and in the flesh brilliance. The space for by-the-numbers recall could have been much better served with more great stories from Feller's pinpoint recollections.
Feller was a fascinating man in the game, on and off the field. It was co-author Bill Gilbert's responsibility to bring Feller's character and stories to the printed page in a baseball biography that could have stood as one of the best ever. This is indeed a 'good read' but falls short of what was an attainable 'complete game victory', in my opinion.
December 25, 2022
I last read this when it came out in 1990 after getting it personalized by Mr. Feller himself. So I thought I'd treat myself by reading it again as things slowed down for Christmas.
The author's story is interesting. The things he saw and the players and baseball people he knew are astonishing. A walking history book he was until his death twenty years after the book came out. There are plenty of good tales and interesting stories for any baseball fan, but especially those interested in his era of the '30s, '40s, and '50s. And he is not shy (he never was) in sharing his opinion of the characters in his life story. Stats galore, especially his personal ones, abound.
He does go a bit overboard with obscure details on various stats and players. Also, his frequent comparison of his day to current day (current day always loses) gets old after a while.
This is not going to be ranked with the best baseball autobiographies, but for fans of the Indians and Feller, it is a fine read.
The author's story is interesting. The things he saw and the players and baseball people he knew are astonishing. A walking history book he was until his death twenty years after the book came out. There are plenty of good tales and interesting stories for any baseball fan, but especially those interested in his era of the '30s, '40s, and '50s. And he is not shy (he never was) in sharing his opinion of the characters in his life story. Stats galore, especially his personal ones, abound.
He does go a bit overboard with obscure details on various stats and players. Also, his frequent comparison of his day to current day (current day always loses) gets old after a while.
This is not going to be ranked with the best baseball autobiographies, but for fans of the Indians and Feller, it is a fine read.
February 10, 2024
I acquired this memoir when I attended a luncheon at which Mr. Feller was the speaker. It's autographed to me and that means a lot because Mr. Feller and my father were both baseball players in Iowa before WWII. Not that they played against each other (to my knowledge, since my father was a few years younger than Mr. Feller), but they lived within 20 miles or so of each other. My father loved baseball and taught me to love baseball; so many stories of his involved Bobby Feller, HOF MLB pitcher out of Van Meter, Iowa. Likewise, the anecdotes in this memoir remind me of so many stories from my childhood that involve baseball. Like my love for the Yankees and Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra and listening to Dizzy Dean on radio broadcasts. But, I picked this off my bookshelf to read now because I was doing some baseball "research." I found a lot of things to think about and to share with my grandson who is beginning his first season playing college baseball. Just what I was looking for.
August 6, 2024
Very detailed book about Bob Feller's Hall of Fame career with the Cleveland Indians.
April 8, 2016
Glad I read this. I grew up as a baseball fan in Cleveland, but Feller was from an earlier era. The Indians of my era (1962-1972) were not very good. So he represented an earlier era of success, winning the World Series in 1948, winning the pennant in 1954. He continued to live in Cleveland the rest of his life, and I knew of him mainly as an insurance agent, through advertisements!
The book gave a nice sense of baseball for the 20-some years he was active (1936-1956), and he had a lot of interesting things to say about baseball then and now (well, 1990--when he wrote it). I think the only thing he was wrong about (fortunately) was his prediction that all stadiums would be domed.
I hadn't know about his role in creating barnstorming tours after the regular season in the 1940's where he would play against black teams, giving them exposure, and cash, and paving the way toward breaking the color barrier.
The book gave a nice sense of baseball for the 20-some years he was active (1936-1956), and he had a lot of interesting things to say about baseball then and now (well, 1990--when he wrote it). I think the only thing he was wrong about (fortunately) was his prediction that all stadiums would be domed.
I hadn't know about his role in creating barnstorming tours after the regular season in the 1940's where he would play against black teams, giving them exposure, and cash, and paving the way toward breaking the color barrier.
May 17, 2012
Bob Feller's story is rather interesting...Cleveland icon that may not get the publicity he should as an old time great pitcher. The book covers his whole life. Lots of good stories, nothing to detailed though. Plenty of references to Jolt-in Joe and Teddy Ballgame. And just like your grandfather Bob does makes that "back in my day" statement with regularity.
April 13, 2009
great pitcher and great guy
May 7, 2016
read some time in 1992
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews