November 2 - Bob Feller recalls first start after the WAR

On November 2, 1972 -- Leading the league in victories (27), ERA (1.97), starts (41), complete games (30), and strikeouts (310), Steve Carlton wins the 1972 National League Cy Young Award, the first of three he will win. 'Lefty's' 27 victories account for nearly half (45.8%) of the last-place Philadelphia Phillies 59 wins.November 2, 1999 Ken Griffey Jr., who wants to be nearer his family in Orlando, asks the Mariners to move him to a team that is closer to Florida. The superstar outfielder will get his wish in February when Seattle trades him to the Reds for Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, and Brett Tomko, and minor leaguer Jake Meyer.Pat Gillick signs on with the Phillies and will lead them to the 2008 World Series Title. Today's Birth boy Bob Feller A farmboy from Van Meter, Iowa, Feller was only 17 when he struck out eight members of the St. Louis Cardinals in three innings of an exhibition game. After this awesome display of pitching, Feller was advised to seek voluntary retirement from high school in order to sign a pro-baseball contract. In his first major league start, against the St. Louis Browns, Feller fanned 15 hitters and never looked back. For twenty years, all with the Indians, the teenage phenomena dominated AL batters with his blazing fastball and bending curve. He hurled three no-hitters, including the only opening day gem, notched 12 one-hitters, served in World War II, and won 19 games for Cleveland’s 1948 World Championship team. Feller was the second big league star to enter the service for World War II (following Hank Greenberg). He lost almost four seasons to military duty but was still at the top of his game when he returned. His first year back from the war he set a new record for strikeouts in a season (348 in 1946). While in the U.S. Navy, Feller won eight battle stars.Mentioned in this episode:Classic Baseball BroadcastsClassic Baseball BroadcastsMentioned in this episode:New CBB Podcast Intro Post Roll March 26