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Statement by Baseball Hall-of-Famer and World War II Veteran Bob Feller
George W. Bush ^ | July 5, 2004

Posted on 07/05/2004 4:43:53 PM PDT by RWR8189

GATES MILLS, OH - Baseball Hall-of-Famer and World War II veteran Bob Feller announced today his support for President Bush’s strong leadership:

“While President Bush’s leadership in the War on Terror has made America’s veterans proud of our commander-in-chief, John Kerry's changing position shows he cannot be trusted with our safety and security. John Kerry voted to take action in Iraq, but later declared himself an anti-war candidate. Then, after saying it would be ‘irresponsible’ not to support our troops, he voted against the $87 billion to provide our troops with supplies like body armor. He explained that vote by saying he voted for the $87 billion before he voted against it, and went on to pledge his support for an additional $25 billion in funding. When the time came to vote on the $25 billion, Kerry was nowhere to be found.”

Feller, a native of Van Meter, Iowa, has been called the “Greatest Living Right-Handed Pitcher.” He first signed a Cleveland Indians contract in July 1935 at age 16. He later enlisted in the Navy two days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor at age 23 and at the height of his baseball career.

Before enlisting in the Navy, he had become the first pitcher in major league history to win 20 or more games before the age of 21, and had 109 major league victories, including the only no-hitter pitched on opening day in Chicago 1940. After four years in the Navy, Feller had earned eight Battle Stars serving aboard the U.S.S. Alabama as a gun captain in the gunnery department. He then returned to baseball to continue his legendary career that included setting the major league record for the most strikeouts in one season—348—in 1948; pitching three no-hitters; and was voted the Cleveland Indian’s “Man of the Year” twice.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: baseball; bobfeller; endorsement; feller; halloffame; mlb; patriot; worldwartwo; ww2; wwii
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1 posted on 07/05/2004 4:43:54 PM PDT by RWR8189
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To: RWR8189

Feller reaches back in time and fires another 100mph fastball for a strike.


2 posted on 07/05/2004 4:48:30 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: RWR8189

Ive read about Feller. A true American hero.


3 posted on 07/05/2004 4:50:14 PM PDT by cripplecreek (you tell em i'm commin.... and hells commin with me.)
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To: RWR8189

Bob Feller? He's a helluva good guy.

Tex 3, Cle 2, bot 2nd

4 posted on 07/05/2004 4:54:32 PM PDT by Petronski (A Rinso white!)
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To: RWR8189

Good deal. I don't know how any honorable man can support Kerry. Good to see a good guy like this is supporting Bush.


5 posted on 07/05/2004 4:54:50 PM PDT by faithincowboys
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To: RWR8189

If you are passing through Iowa on I-80 stop at Feller's hometown of Van Meter --just west of Des Moines. The locals have a very nice museum and a lot of Feller autographed memorabilia for sale. John Wayne's home town, Winterset, is also close by and also the famed covered bridges of Madison County. A former Iowegian.


6 posted on 07/05/2004 4:56:52 PM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: RWR8189

Wonderful endorsement from Bob Feller... a true American hero.


7 posted on 07/05/2004 4:58:34 PM PDT by nutmeg ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Comrade Hillary - 6/28/04)
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To: The Great RJ
And if you're passing through Mobile, Alabama on Interstate 10, spend a couple of hours abroad the USS Alabama. On the self-guided tour I took, I saw a plaque marking the berth where Bob Feller slept while he served as a sailor aboard that mighty ship.

USS Alabama Website

Paragraph from website relating to Bob Feller: "[USS] ALABAMA’s most famous sailor was Robert “Bullet Bob” Feller, who was chosen Major League Baseball’s Best Right Handed Pitcher in the 20th century! Feller, an All-Star with the Cleveland Indians before Pearl Harbor, enlisted and served 34 months aboard BB-60 as a Chief Petty Officer in charge of one of the 40mm gun mounts, before returning to baseball and an outstanding career."

8 posted on 07/05/2004 5:05:07 PM PDT by jpthomas
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To: RWR8189

As a pitcher growing up in the '60s, Bob Feller was the guy I tried to emulate. All I wanted to do was throw a baseball so hard that the batter couldn't see it. (The story goes that on one particular day when Feller was at the top of his game, an umpire called a strike on a batter who turned to the ump and said, "That pitch sounded a little low.")

Anyways, it is certainly good to know that Bob is as intelligent and savvy about the nation's well-being as he was about pitching. May God bless Bob Feller.


9 posted on 07/05/2004 5:05:08 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: RWR8189

Feller's endorsement is worth as much as Roger Clemons'. In other words, not much. And before you cite his war experience, they will cite Kerry's to you. Be consistent, folks. Who cares what Bob Feller thinks?


10 posted on 07/05/2004 5:05:18 PM PDT by Defiant (Moore-On: That throbbing anticipation felt by a liberal hoping for America's defeat.)
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To: RWR8189

Bob Feller's Hall of Fame Plaque

11 posted on 07/05/2004 5:05:20 PM PDT by deport (Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.)
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To: Defiant
Who cares what Bob Feller thinks?

About a million people older and wiser than you, I'd say.

12 posted on 07/05/2004 5:15:16 PM PDT by lancer (If you are not with us, you are against us!)
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To: Mr. Mojo
I believe that Feller played for two of the all time owners in Baseball History.

Can anyone name 'em?

13 posted on 07/05/2004 5:15:25 PM PDT by Young Werther
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: Defiant

Actually, lots of non-political types pay attention to the endorsements of celebrities. Since Hollywood is all-out for Kerry, it is good to see some celebrity endorsements for President Bush...especially a Hall of Famer with a sterling war record.


15 posted on 07/05/2004 5:19:09 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Young Werther

Alva Bradley and Bill Veeck?


16 posted on 07/05/2004 5:26:59 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo

Yup! But you forgot that young Clevelander who watched the game throught a knot hole in the outfield fence. He was a minority owner during the 40s and you might have heard of him....Bob Hope!!!


17 posted on 07/05/2004 5:32:29 PM PDT by Young Werther
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To: RWR8189

I was fortunate to visit USS Alabama at Mobile Harbor in the mid-80's. If you want to see a fully-restored battleship, that's the ticket. In one of my photo albums I have a picture of a bunk aboard the ship, with a plaque above it that says "Bob Feller slept here".


18 posted on 07/05/2004 5:35:03 PM PDT by FlyVet
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To: RWR8189

He honed his pitching arm while doing farm work.


19 posted on 07/05/2004 5:38:11 PM PDT by dennisw (http://www.prophetofdoom.net/)
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To: RWR8189

The statue of Bob Feller at Jacobs Field.

20 posted on 07/05/2004 5:40:31 PM PDT by IndyTiger
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