On January 18, 1950, star right-hander

Bob Feller tells the Cleveland Indians that he should receive a cut in pay

after a subpar 15-14 season in 1949. The Indians agree to the suggestion,

cutting the future Hall of Famer’s pay by $20,000. Feller will receive a salary

of $45,000 in 1950.

A farmboy from Van Meter, Iowa, in 1936 Feller was only 17

when he struck out eight members of the St. Louis Cardinals in three innings of

an exhibition game. After this awesome display of pitching, Feller was advised

to seek voluntary retirement from high school in order to sign a pro-baseball

contract. In his first major league start, against the St. Louis Browns, Feller

fanned 15 hitters and never looked back. For twenty years, all with the

Indians, the teenage phenomena dominated AL batters with his blazing fastball

and bending curve. He hurled three no-hitters, including the only opening day

gem on April 16, 1940, he will also win the triple crown in 40. His second came

in 1946 when he set the AL record with 348 strikeouts.

He also notched 12 one-hitters, and won 19 games for

Cleveland's lasy world series winner in 1948. You can listen to all 6 games on

our Classic Radio Broadcasts.  

Feller career was put on hold when he became the second big

league star to enter the service for World War II (following Hank Greenberg).

He lost almost four seasons to military duty While in the U.S. Navy, Feller won

eight battle stars.

I am going to play him recalling his first game back from

the War . . . it is one of dozens of audio gems we have on Vintage Baseball

Reflections