Helmar This Great Game #5 Bob FELLER Cleveland Indians HOF

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About the Player

Bob 'Rapid Robert' Feller from Van Meter, Iowa was only sixteen when he struck out eight members of the St. Louis Cardinals in three innings of an exhibition stint. Bob came up as a seventeen year phenom and on August 25, 1936 proceeded to strike out fifteen batters in his first Major League start a 4-1 victory over the Browns. Later that season struck out seventeen Philadelphia Athletics. In 1938 Feller became a regular starter for the Indians winning seventeen games and leading the league in strikeouts fanning 240 batters. In 1938 Feller also set a major league record walking 208 batters. Though Bob Feller proceeded to lead the league in walks three more seasons, Feller's control was improving, enabling him to dominate hitters and lead the American League in both wins and strikeouts in 1939, 1940 and 1941. Bob's best season was 1940.That year he pitched a no-hitter on Opening Day against the White Sox and proceeded to completely dominate hitters the rest of the year. His totals that year were astounding--261 strikeouts, 27 wins, 320 innings, 37 starts and 31 complete games. Feller missed nearly four full seasons in his prime serving his country during World War II, for which he was decorated with five campaign ribbons studded with eight battle stars. Upon his return in 1946, Feller was better than ever, winning 26 games, striking out 348 batters and pitching his second no-hitter, this time against the Yankees. All told, Feller won 20 games six times, pitched 3 no-hitters and 12 one-hitters. Even though Feller's military career consumed four prime baseball years, Feller still won 266 games. Most baseball historians agree that Feller probably would have won 350 games with 3,500 strikeouts had his baseball career not been interrupted by World War II. One of the original ballplayer-businessman, Feller earned nearly as much money barnstorming and from endorsements as from pitching for the Cleveland Indians. In 1957, the Indians retired his number 19. In 1969, during professional baseball's centennial year celebration, Feller was voted baseball's greatest living right-handed pitcher. Bob Feller was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962.

About the Series

This series marks a step in a new direction for Helmar. For the first time we take a serious look at baseball in the 1950's and then, perhaps, the 1960's. The game found itself changing dramatically in this post WWII era, influenced by both the larger society and technological innovation. The color barrier may have been officially broken in 1947 but the acceptance of black players by the big league clubs came slowly, if surely. Reliable and inexpensive air transportation paved the way for geographic expansion. The game, which had been centered in the East and Midwest, found new opportunities along the West Coast.

The very center of the baseball world through the decade was New York City. New York teams competed in every World Series through the decade except for 1959. In many of those years both teams competing were from the city. Interestingly, New York also became the center of the art world at the same time. Migration after WWII brought many creatives to the Big Apple and movements such as abstract, modernism, surrealism and avant-garde.

Studying the era has inspired Helmar to use bold, often surreal colors in this series. We hope that you will join us as we explore this era of change.

Card size: 3' x 4'

Individually Numbered 1-20

Related Cards in the Series

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Also, click on card number to see card information or player name to see player information page!

Helmar This Great Game, Cleveland Indians
Card #	Thumbnail Pic	Player Name	Position	Top Auction Price
2		WYNN, Early	Full figure throwing	$ 46.00
5		FELLER, Bob	Throwing follow through	$ 80.56
41		DOBY, Larry	Batting follow through	$ 76.55
46		Maris, Roger	Leaning in	$ 73.89
59		Avila, Bobby	Leaning on bat, chest up	$ 76.55
62		Carrasquel, Chico	Batting follow through	$ 66.55
67		Easter, Luke	Bat on shoulder	$ 67.55
70		Garcia, Mike	Set position	$ 76.55
76		Jones, Sam	Building, glove up	$ 72.50
100		Rosen, Al	Looking to throw	$ 102.50
102		Score, Herb	Building, glove, ball	$ 76.55
105		Trouppe, Quincy	Gear; catching crouch	$ 76.00
106		Wertz, Vic	Building; bat cocked	$ 69.00

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