Indians and U.S. Navy to commemorate honor, courage and commitment with Bob Feller 'Act of Valor Award'
In a joint announcement today, the offices of the Cleveland Indians and the United States Navy officially rolled out the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.
Also supporting the award are the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the USS ALABAMA Battleship Commission.
“As we celebrate with our friends and family this Memorial Day, we need to take a moment and honor those who have served our country,” said Peter Fertig, President of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation.
“It is through their hard work and dedication to this great country that we have our freedom, we must not forget those who have protected that right.”
"It is important to recognize Bob Feller’s unselfish devotion to our nation and Navy. He made the personal choice to give up money and fame for the service of others and placed himself in harm’s way with his shipmates during a time of war. The Chief Petty Officer that is selected for the Bob Feller Act of Valor award will embody these same traits,” said Mike Stevens, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.
At the age of 23, Feller enlisted in the Navy immediately after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the start of World War II for the United States. He did so despite possessing a deferment with which he could have been exempt from service. But he enlisted anyway, becoming one of the first professional athletes to do so and interrupting what was already a phenomenal baseball career. He served aboard USS ALABAMA (BB-60), seeing combat in the Pacific Theater, in The Battle of the Philippine Sea. He rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer before his discharge in August 1945, at the end of the war.
“I want to be remembered as a good American,” Feller said in an interview – according to Bob DiBiasio, Cleveland Indians Sr. Vice President of Public Affairs. “What he brought to our organization exemplifies that statement. No. 19 will always be remembered for so much more than the extraordinary talent he brought to the baseball diamond. He was a true Patriot.”
The Van Meter, Iowa, native – affectionately known as the Heater from Van Meter – missed almost four seasons by enlisting, but still became one of the best pitchers in MLB history. The hard-throwing right-hander, also known as Rapid Robert, struck out 15 batters in his first Major League start – as a 17-year-old – and went on to record 266 wins and record six 20-win seasons. His fastball was once clocked at 107.9mph. He led the American League in victories six times and strikeouts seven times.
Along with Jackie Robinson, in 1962 he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, becoming the first players so honored since the inaugural induction class of 1936. He is the only U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer in the Hall of Fame.
“Bob Feller remains an American icon, for his contributions on the field as well as his commitment to his country,” said Brad Horn, Senior Director of Communications and Education for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “He remains an inspirational lesson in Museum education for fans of all generations to learn how his commitment to country benefitted so many, while sacrificing years of his prime baseball career.”
The award will be given each year to one Major League Baseball player, one Navy Chief Petty Officer, and one Baseball Hall of Famer. Finalists for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award will be announced in a ceremony during the Independence Day holiday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Winners will be presented their award in a ceremony on Veterans Day in Washington, D.C. at the Navy Memorial.
(Cleveland Indians official press release)
