[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 120, 109th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
NOTE: Sept. 11, 2006 -  [H.Con.Res.449]  HALL OF FAMER BOB FELLER,
HISTORIC 1946 BASEBALL SEASON--60TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

Whereas Robert William Andrew Feller was born on November 3, 1918, near
Van Meter, Iowa, and resides in Gates Mills, Ohio;

Whereas Bob Feller enlisted in the Navy 2 days after the attack on Pearl
Harbor in 1941;

Whereas, at the time of his enlistment, Bob Feller was at the peak of
his baseball career, as he had been signed to the Cleveland Indians
at the age of 16, had struck out 15 batters in his first Major
League Baseball start in August 1936, and established a Major League
record by striking out 18 Detroit Tigers in a single, 9-inning game;


[[Page 3736]]
120 STAT. 3736


Whereas Bob Feller is the first pitcher in modern Major League Baseball
history to win 20 or more games before the age of 21;

Whereas Bob Feller pitched the only opening day no-hitter in Major
League Baseball history;

Whereas, on April 16, 1940, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Bob Feller
threw his first no-hitter and began the season for which he was
awarded Major League Baseball Player of the Year;

Whereas Bob Feller served with valor in the Navy for nearly 4 years,
missing almost 4 full baseball seasons;

Whereas Bob Feller was stationed mostly aboard the U.S.S. Alabama as a
gunnery specialist, where he kept his pitching arm in shape by
tossing a ball on the deck of that ship;

Whereas Bob Feller earned 8 battle stars and was discharged in late
1945, and was able to pitch 9 games at the end of that season,
compiling a record of 5 wins and 3 losses;

Whereas 60 years ago, amid great speculation that, after nearly 4
seasons away from baseball, his best pitching days were behind him,
Bob Feller had 1 of the most amazing seasons in baseball history;

Whereas, in the 1946 season, Bob Feller pitched 36 complete games in 42
starts;

Whereas, on April 30, 1946, in a game against the New York Yankees, Bob
Feller pitched his second career no-hitter;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller pitched in relief 6 times, saving 4 games;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller routinely threw between 125 and 140 pitches
a game, a feat not often seen today;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller pitched 371\1/3\ innings and had 348
strikeouts;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller had an earned run average of 2.18;

Whereas, in 1946, a fastball thrown by Bob Feller was clocked at 109
mph;

Whereas Bob Feller was the winning pitcher in the 1946 All Star Game,
throwing 3 scoreless innings in a 12-0 victory by the American
League;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller led the American League in wins, shutouts,
strikeouts, games pitched, and innings;

Whereas the baseball career of Bob Feller ended in 1956, but not before
pitching his third no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers on July 1,
1951, pitching 12 1-hit games, amassing 266 victories and 2,581
strikeouts, and leading the league in strikeouts 7 times;

Whereas Bob Feller was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962;
and

Whereas Bob Feller, a beloved baseball figure known as ``Bullet Bob''
and ``Rapid Robert,'' placed service to his country ahead of playing
the game he loved and is a decorated war veteran: Now, therefore, be
it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress commemorates the 60th anniversary of

[[Page 3737]]
120 STAT. 3737

the 1946 season of Bob Feller and his return from military service to
the United States.

Agreed to September 11, 2006.