July 6, 1936
After the first batter is thrown out trying to bunt, Bob
Feller, a 17-year old farm boy from Van Meter, Iowa,
strikes out eight consecutive batters in three innings
during an All-star break exhibition game against the
Cardinals' Gas House Gang. It is the Indian rookie's first
appearance in a major league uniform.
July 19, 1936
Seventeen year-old Iowa farm boy, Bob Feller, makes his
major league debut pitching one inning of relief against
the Senators in Washington, D.C. The hard throwing 'kid'
allows no hits and no runs, striking out none and walks two
batters. (Feller believes the box score is wrong - he
claims to have struck out Buddy Lewis in his autobiography)
August 23, 1936
The Indians' seventeen-year-old rookie pitcher, Bob Feller
makes his first major league start striking out the first
eight batters he faces. 'Rapid Robert' will finish the game
with 15 strikeouts, one shy of the American League record,
as Cleveland beats the Browns, 4-1.
September 13, 1936
Indians' teenage pitching phenom Bob Feller sets a new
American League record by striking out 17 batters when he
two-hits the A's at Shibe Park, 5-2. After the season, the
17-year old will return to his Van Meter, Iowa home to
graduate from high school.
October 2, 1938
Indians' fireballer Bob Feller fans 18 Tigers establishing
a modern major league record for strike outs in a game, but
'Rapid Robert' loses the Cleveland Stadium contest, 4-1.
Two seasons ago, the 17-year old Van Meter farm boy set the
American League mark with 17 punch-outs in his rookie year.
September 8, 1939
With his 12-1 victory over the Browns in St. Louis, Bob
Feller becomes the youngest modern-era player to win 20
games. The Indians fireballer finish the season 24-9 while
posting a 2.85 ERA.
July 11, 1939
All three runs in the American League's 3-1 All-Star
victory are driven in by Yankees as their home ballpark
plays host to the Midsummer Classic. Indians fireballer Bob
Feller steals the show at Yankee Stadium as the 20-year old
hurls 3.2 scoreless innings.
May 14, 1939
At Comiskey Park, Bob Feller's mother, sitting in the
stands near the visitor's dugout, is injured when a foul
ball hits her just above the right eye. The Indians'
starting pitcher, her son Bob, threw the pitch that
resulted in his mom needing seven stitches on Mothers' Day.
April 16, 1940
On a cool day at Comiskey Park, the White Sox team batting
average does not change when Indian fireballer Bob Feller
hurls an Opening Day no-hitter beating Chicago, 1-0. Each
South-sider started and ended the game with a .000 BA.
October 26, 1940
Tigers' slugging left fielder Hank Greenberg (.340, 41,
150) is named the American League's Most Valuable Player
with Indian hurler Bob Feller (27-11- 2.61) finishing
second. Having won the award in 1935 as a first baseman,
'Hammerin' Hank' becomes the first player to win the MVP
again playing a different position.
May 24, 1940
The first major league game at night is played in St.
Louis. A Friday evening crowd of 24,827 watches Bob Feller
and the Indians beat the hometown Browns at Sportsman Park,
3-2.
January 21, 1941
The Indians sign Bob Feller to a deal worth a reported
$30,000. The Van Meter, Iowa farm boy posted a 27-11 record
with a 2.61 ERA for Cleveland last season.
December 9, 1941
Although having a 3-C draft deferment due to being the sole
support of his family, Indian hurler Bob Feller, last
year's American League leading pitcher with 27 victories,
becomes the first major leaguer to enlist after the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The 23-year old navy
recruit has already won 107 major league games.
January 6, 1942
Indians right-hander Bob Feller reports to Norfolk to begin
his World War II enlistment in the Navy. Rapid Robert, a
20-game winner for the Tribe for the last three seasons,
was the first major leaguer to enlist in the armed forces
after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
April 30, 1946
In the game he considers his biggest thrill in baseball,
Indian hurler Bob Feller, striking out 11 batters, throws
his second career no-hitter, edging the Yankees at the
Stadium, 1-0. Frankie Hayes' home run in the top of the
ninth inning proves to be the difference.
August 20, 1946
Prior to the start of the game against the Senators in
Washington, using the U.S. Army's Sky Screen Chronograph,
Bob Feller's fastball is clocked at 98.6 miles-per-hour
breaking Yankees' hurler Atley Donald's 1939 speed record
of 94.7 mph.
September 27, 1946
In Detroit's Briggs Stadium, Indian fireballer Bob Feller
ties Rube Waddell's major league mark with his 343rd K of
the season. Future research, however, will show the future
Hall of Famer had really struck out 349 in 1904.
September 29, 1946
On the last day of the campaign, by striking out opposing
pitcher Hal Newhouser and four others, Bob Feller
establishes a major league record by striking out his 348
batters in one season. Future research, however, will show
Rube Waddell had struck out 349 in 1904.
October 10, 1948
The largest crowd ever to attend a World Series game,
86,288 fans jam into Cleveland's Municipal Stadium to
witness a showdown between to future Hall of Famers.
Braves' southpaw Warren Spahn beats Bob Feller and the
Indians in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, 11-5.
January 18, 1950
Bob Feller asks and gets his salary reduced to $45,000, a
$20,000 cut, because he believes his sub-par record of
15-14 doesn't merit an increase. Right-handed 'Rapid
Robert' will rebound posting a 16-11 record along with an
ERA of 3.43 for the Indians next season.
July 1, 1951
Indian right-hander Bob Feller becomes the third pitcher in
major league history, joining Larry Corcoran and Cy Young,
to pitch three career no-hitters when he defeats the Tiger,
2-1. Detroit scores its run in the fourth frame on an
error, a stolen base, an errant pick-off throw and a sac
fly.
June 12, 1954
The Indians (35-17) move into first place as Bob Feller
gets his 2,500th career strikeout when the Tribe beats
Boston in Fenway Park, 4-3. Rapid Rob will finish his
18-year major league career with 2,581, an average of more
than six batters a game.
May 1, 1955
Indian starters put on a 'pitching clinic' during a
doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox. Veteran Bob Feller holds
Boston hitless for 6+ innings and hurls his major league
record 12th one-hitter in a 2-0 victory, and in the night
cap, rookie left-hander Herb Score strikes out the first
nine batters (he will whiff a total of 16) en route to a
2-1 four-hitter win.
December 11, 1956
A major league player association is formed. Bob Feller, a
star pitcher with the Indians, is named as the
organization's first president.
August 31, 1959
Tying major league mark, Sandy Koufax fans 18 Giants to
establish a new National record for a nine-inning in a 5-2
Dodger win at the LA Memorial Coliseum. In 1938, Indians
fireballer Bob Feller struck out 18 in a 4-1 loss to the
Tigers.
April 24, 1962
Dodger Sandy Koufax ties a major league mark striking out
18 batters in a nine inning game when the Dodgers rout the
Cubs, 10-2 at Wrigley Field. Indians right-hander Bob
Feller established the record whiffing 18 Tigers in 1938.
July 23, 1962
Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player to be
inducted into the Hall of Fame. Joining the Dodger
infielder in the Cooperstown ceremony are fireballer Bob
Feller, veteran manager Bill McKechnie, and outfielder Ed
Roush.
June 4, 1964
At Connie Mack Stadium, Sandy Koufax throws his third
no-hitter in three years, blanking the Phillies 3-0. The
Dodgers' southpaw, who will add a perfect game to his
resume next season, joins Bob Feller as the only other
modern major leaguer to pitch three career hitless games.
August 25, 1985
At the age of 20 years, 9 months, 9 days, Dwight Gooden
becomes the youngest 20-game winner ever when the Mets beat
San Diego at Shea Stadium, 9-3. Doc is 27 days younger than
former Indian hurler Bob Feller, who accomplished the feat
with Cleveland in 1939.
June 3, 1989
Nolan Ryan pitches his 11th career one-hitter beating the
Mariners, 6-1. The Alvin, Texas native breaks Bob Feller's
record of 15 low-hit game having now having pitched a
combination of 16 no-hit and one-hit games.
April 26, 1990
Ranger hurler Nolan Ryan ties Bob Feller's major league
record of throwing twelve one-hitters when he beats the
White Sox,1-0. The only hit allowed is Ron Kittle's second
inning check-swing single to right field.
April 4, 1994
In the inaugural game played Jacobs Field, President
Clinton throws out the first ball and 'El Presidente'
Dennis Martinez throws the first pitch as the Indians
defeat the Mariners In 11 innings, 4-3 With Bob Feller, the
author of the only Opening Day no-hitter game in major
league history in attendance, Mariner southpaw Randy
Johnson holds the tribe hitless for the first seven
innings.