News

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Sam Marchio
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
202/225-3665

BOEHLERT HONORS BASEBALL LEGEND BOB "RAPID ROBERT" FELLER

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution (H.Con.Res. 449) yesterday afternoon commemorating the 60th anniversary of the historic 1946 season of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member Bob Feller and his return from military service to the United States.  Feller was also Boehlert's special guest on the House floor today for the Iraqi Prime Minister's address to a Joint Session of Congress.

Bob Feller (at podium) is honored by U.S. Reps. Sherwood Boehlert (NY-24) and Steven LaTourette (OH-14) during a press conference in Washington, DC

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - Bob Feller (at podium) is honored by U.S. Reps. Sherwood Boehlert (NY-24) and Steven LaTourette (OH-14) during a press conference in Washington, DC.

"Bob Feller is, in the truest sense, a great American hero," Boehlert said.  "Not only did Bob Feller excel on the field, he also - at only 23-years of age - was the first member of Major League Baseball to pack up his belongings and sign up to serve his nation in World War II.  And after his service to our great nation he returned to baseball and continued to hurl his blazing fastball with as much, if not more tenacity than ever.

"On Memorial Day 2002, when the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its new policy that forevermore all veterans would be admitted free, the Hall had a special ceremony to recognize the greats of the game who served in the military when the nation needed them the most.  And it was my high honor to present Bob Feller's submission.  I appreciate and applaud Bob Feller for all the things he has done on and off the diamond.  He is one of my heroes because of the person that he is, the guy inside."

Bob Feller's fastball set the standard against which all of his successors have been judged. "Rapid Robert" spent his entire 18-year career with the Cleveland Indians, amassing 266 victories and 2,581 strikeouts, while leading the league in strikeouts seven times. He missed nearly four full seasons in his prime serving his country during World War II, for which he was decorated with five campaign ribbons studded with eight battle stars.

###

Press Releases

Home