Thursday, December 16, 2010

Day 14 - Rapid Robert aka Bob Feller

Bob Feller - Graphite on Canson 8.5 X 11 
Day 14


Bob Feller was a Major League baseball pitcher. He spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He was born in the small town of Van Meter, Iowa and was said to be able to pitch a ball more than 100 mph when he broke into the big leagues in 1936, he was just 17 years old.

Joe DiMaggio said of Feller, "I don’t think anyone is ever going to throw a ball faster than he does". Feller stayed with the the Indian's, despite opportunities to earn more in larger markets and with better teams. He won more than 20 games in six different years and amassed 266 wins in his 18 year career finishing with a lifetime ERA of just 3.25.



Feller said that even after playing for 18 years and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the thing he was most proud of was his 3 years of service during WWII. Mr. Feller passed away yesterday at age 92.

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Feller when I worked for the Saint Paul Saints in the early 90's and he was kind enough to sign a baseball for me, which I will always cherish. He was a modest man who wanted to speak more about others than he did himself.


Today I wanted to sketch him. To remember him in the fulness of his youth. This is a simple graphite sketch on Canson paper. Rest in peace Rapid Robert.

1 comment:

  1. jayne234512:33 AM

    I love what you write as much as I love the artwork. What a great story, and a tribute to a very humble man.

    ReplyDelete

Instagram