Feller made his first major league start on Aug. 23, 1936, two months shy of turning 18. He never pitched in the minors, and when the Indians decided to use him in a relief role on July 19, 1936, he was the youngest player ever to pitch in a major league game. Many wondered if the kid - who would later credit his arm strength to milking cows, picking corn, and baling hay - was in over his head.
Hardly.
Using a fastball later dubbed "the Van Meter heater," Feller struck out 15 - two shy of the major league record in his first game, beating the St. Louis Browns 4-1 - a star was born. [Three weeks later], Feller established the AL record by striking out 17 Philadelphia Athletics.
This all took place in the summer before his senior year of high school.
Imagine the conversation at Van Meter High School the following fall:
"Hey, how was your summer, Bif?"
"Great. I was a lifeguard down at the pool. I met a ton of girls!"
"My summer stunk. I worked at my dad's hardware store."
"How 'bout you, Bob?"
"I played Major League baseball for the Cleveland Indians. I had a pretty good game against the A's."
"All right everyone, open your books to page 3..."
Baseball was only a part of Feller's remarkable story.
Stirred by Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy the following day - the first major league player to do so. He served as a gun captain on the USS Alabama, earning several battle commendations and medals.
When he returned from military duty in 1946, Feller arguably had his finest season, going 26-15 with a 2.18 ERA and pitching 36 complete games and 10 shutouts. For comparison's sake, the Indians entire pitching staff had 10 complete games and four shutouts last season.
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