Posted on 12/15/2010 11:51:50 PM PST by Varsity Flight
Wanted to pass on the great Bob Feller, and who served this country in honor during WWII, has passed.
Rest in peace.
Bob now knows what we only surmise in hope and faith.
Rest in Peace Bob.
You are home now.
"On Opening Day in the 1940 season, Feller pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox, with the help of a diving play on the final out by second baseman, Ray Mack. This is the only no-hitter to be thrown on Opening Day in major league history."
Cool.
Thanks for posting picture; worth a ‘thousand words’ for sure. God Bless Bob Feller.
Bob, thanks for your service. Rest in peace.
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion or VFW
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Bob has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
‘Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It’s so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier—
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”
I was in line getting my copy of his book autographed, and the guy in front of me is asking Bob Feller to recount some story in the autograph he’s asking for. Bob Feller tells the guy, “I already wrote the book once”, then he signed his name.
RIP Rapid Robert!
RIP .You earned it. Men like Ted Williams and many more served, too. These were real americans who did not play the VIP game. Why did Obama never serve?
Great one. Great man. RIP.
If you get a chance, try to find Oliver North’s “War Stories” where he interviews former MLB players who served in WW II. Those interviewed were Yogi Berra, Jerry Coleman, Monte Irvin and, of course, Bob Feller. RIP Mr. Feller.
Loved the interview where he was asked how many more wins he’d have gotten if he hadn’t served. He responded that we’d gotten a pretty big win (WWII) when he served. Great perspective.
“Bob now knows what we only surmise in hope and faith.”
We can go beyond hope and faith, because God has said it and He never lies or makes a mistake. We can believe and be assured of Heaven. “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9)
Believe it.
May he rest in peace.
He was one of the great ones: not only the best right-handed pitcher between Pete Alexander and Tom Seaver, but also a patriot and a gentleman. Had he not voluntered for the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor and missed close to five full seasons, he would have won over 350 games.
I had the opportunity to meet Bob Feller once about 20 years ago, though briefly. I had showed up at a baseball card show to get his autograph on a photo of him warming up before a game.
To my surprise, he was able to tell me the date and location of the photo, as well as much of the line-up for both teams and weather conditions that affected play that day. He went on for about 5 minutes speaking about this. Pretty cool.
RIP.
Better brush up on your history. Williams served reluctantly. He enlisted the help of a lawyer to argue his case in an attempt to avoid serving during WWII. It was only after the tide of public opinion turned against him that he dropped his fight and volunteered.
Tell that to all the modern prima donnas who have to baby their arms until they are in their twenties.
At age 85 he was still throwing some batting practise in spring training...
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