[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 15811]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING MAJOR LEAGUE HALL OF FAMER BOB FELLER

  (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 449 honoring Major League Baseball Hall of Famer 
Bob Feller.
  Bursting onto the baseball scene in 1936, he immediately became the 
American League's dominant pitcher. A Cleveland Indian throughout his 
18-year career, Feller broke record after record, including three no-
hitters and 12 one-hitters, and he pitched on opening day a no-hitter.
  My older brother Charlie heard a great story about Feller's blazing 
speed. Bob Feller and the Indians were playing the Yankees in the 
1930s, and New York's Lefty Gomez was on deck. As he approached the 
plate, Gomez lit a match. The umpire said, Come on, Lefty, it's not too 
late. You can still see just fine. Gomez pointed to Feller and said, 
That's not what I'm worried about. I just want him to see me.
  Feller's baseball career may have been even more stellar had he not 
been such a patriot. He was one of the first Major League players to 
enlist after Pearl Harbor, losing four seasons to war-time service as a 
combat sailor in the U.S. Navy. He never regretted that choice. Feller 
told a fan last year, The only win I wanted was to win World War II.
  I join my colleagues in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 449, 
celebrating Bob Feller, a monumental figure in Ohio, a baseball icon 
and an American patriot.

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