Hall of Famer Bob Feller, who threw three no-hitters in his career and won 262 games, all with the Cleveland Indians, has died of acute leukemia at age 92.
The Iowa farmboy know as “Rapid Robert” was widely seen as one of the best pitchers in league history – as well as one of the most colorful. He was not a big man, but he had one of the most feared fastballs in league history, and his high leg kick is legendary.
Feller’s 100+ mph fastball earned him a trip to the majors at age 17 in 1936. he would be the first pitcher to ever win more than 20 games before the age of 21, and would go on to win 20 or more games six times in his career. He would lose 3-1/2 of his prime baseball years because of World War II.
Feller enlisted in the Navy the day after Pear Harbor, becoming the first major league player to do so. He served as a gun captain on the USS Alabama, earning several battle commendations and medals.
Feller was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot, in 1962.