Bob Feller aka Robert William Andrew Feller

Hall of Fame pitcher for the Cleveland Indians -- via WHO. He grew up 100 miles east of where I grew up, in the beautiful fields of Van Meter, Iowa. He grew up working on the farm. He started playing in the major leagues at the age of 17; he never spent a day in the minors.

266 wins; 2,581 strikeouts. He set a modern record of 18 strikeouts in one game. He's the only man to pitch a no-hitter on Opening Day, one of his three no-hitters. He had amazing stamina and discipline, and is estimated to have been one of the three hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball history. His nicknames: "the Heater from Van Meter," "Bullet Bob," "Rapid Robert."

A legend, a near-mythic figure. One of my heroes. God bless him.