Bob Feller

I just watched CenterStage, the YES Network show, and the guest was Bob Feller. Some interesting items:
--Bob Feller struck out 15 batters in his first game. He was 17, and at that time the AL record for K's in a game was 16.
--In 1928 Babe Ruth's and Lou Gehrig's barnstorming teams came to his hometown. He caught and killed 50 gophers at 10 cents a piece to earn $5. That was the cost of a baseball signed by the two of them. He still has that baseball at his museum.
--He started throwing a curveball when he was 8 years old.
--"How did you pitch to DiMaggio?", "Not well. He was the only righthaned batter I struggled against."
--On facing Ted Williams: "Trying to throw a fastball by him is like trying to get a sunbeam by a rooster in the morning."
--Advice he gave to Roger Clemens when Clemens was a rookie: "Don't pitch when your team is going to get shutout, it's hard to win that way." Clemens learned that one last year.
--With the test of him throwing next to a motorcycle, Feller thinks he threw 104 MPH. When asked if he's seen anybody else throw as fast, he says no. Koufax the closest.
--Feller signed up for the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. It was completely his choice as he didn't have to go. His father was very ill, making Feller a "C3", meaning he didn't have to go as he was the only one who could support his family. Think about what his stats would have been if he didn't go. He would have gotten to pitch in a league dominated by Snuffy Stirnweiss. He would have a couple of MVP Awards, that's for sure, and quite possibly a few more no-hitters.
--At one point he had a contract tied to the Indians attendance. He got a nickel a head for all the fans they drew over 500,000.
--He was involved in a Friday night then Saturday day games at Yankee Stadium of MLers vs. Negro League players. He said both games drew well over 50,000 fans. Of course back then, that was over twice the average attendence of the highest attended teams.
--Favorite Movie: Pride of the Yankees
--Favorite Singer/Group: The Beatles
--Toughest Hitter to Face: Tommy Henrich
--Toughest Pitcher to go up against: Allie Reynolds
--People he thinks should be in the Hall of Fame: Tommy John, Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Cecil Travis
--Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame? No. Says no commissioner will ever overrule it.
--Should the steroid people be in the Hall of Fame? Probaby not, but up to writers.
--Favorite Actor/Actress: Ronald Reagan/Carole Lombard
--Toughest Ballpark: Fenway
--He goes to Cooperstown 3 to 4 times per year
--Favorite pitchers: All-time, Koufax. Now, Pedro and Maddux.
--Person he'd like to be in a fox-hole with? He was the first person I saw ever actually answer with a military person, some admiral.

Feller's an interesting guy, and he definitely loves the game.