47 Braves At Indians, October 6 1948, Bob Feller And The Fastest Pitcher Ever

21 August 2023

Album art features the statue of Bob Feller at Cleveland.

For many, Bob Feller is the fastest pitcher the baseball world has ever seen, with a reported 107 mph pitch once leaving his hand. And if Ted Williams says that's true, who is going to argue with that>

In an interrupted career, Feller posted a lifetime ERA of 3.25 on 266 wins from 570 games, including 44 shutouts, 12 one-hitters, and three no-hitters. On retirement, he was the number three all-time strikeout pitcher (with just Cy Young and Walter Johnson ahead of him).

Those records could well have been higher, but Feller volunteered for military service following Pearl Harbour, reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer. On leaving the Navy at the end of the war, he started to make his way back to Cleveland… he was pitching two days later.

After hanging up his glove, Feller became the first President of the Major League Baseball Players Association and fought hard for a fairer deal for the Union's members.

To celebrate the life of Bob Feller, we're going back to 1948, and the first game of the World Series. Feller is on the mound for his beloved Indians, while Johnny Sain is pitching for the Boston Braves.

Behind the microphone are Mel Allen and Jim Britt.

You can find the boxscore here.

This game was played on October 6th, 1948.