TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

April 16, 1940, Working in 47-degree weather, Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians hurls the first and only Opening Day no-hitter in major league history. Feller outduels Edgar Smith of the Chicago White Sox in winning a 1-0 decision at Comiskey Park. During one at-bat, White Sox star Luke Appling fouls off 15 straight pitches, but fails to get a hit.

More on Rapid Robert

A farmboy from Van Meter, Iowa, Bob 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.

On December of 1956, Feller was elected the first president of the Players Organization, a precursor to the Players' Union.

Barnstorming Criticism:

Throughout his career, Bob Feller criss-crossed the country playing exhibition games in the off-season, showcasing his legendary fastball for fans in large, medium, and small towns. His barnstorming tours often featured other big leaguers and/or negro league stars, like Satchel Paige. By the late 1940s, Feller was being criticized by a few for his jaunts. "It is the theory of many," wrote the New York Post's Jimmy Cannon, "that Feller has dissipated his greatness on these trips through the villages below the big leagues and they make venomous remarks…" Cannon was (supposedly) referring top a few of Feller's teammates, who resented Bob's pursuit of the dollar. But the sportswriter wondered if jealousy were the real motive. "…their anger is a curious one because most of them would do exactly as [Feller] would if it were possible…" One "old scout" as Cannon called him, said of Feller's exhibition schedule: "He's cutting his life right in half in exhibition games. He'd make more money if he just pitched during the season and picked what he could with odds and ends and let the exhibition games go."In 1947, Feller announced that he would pitch in the Cuban winter league during the off-season. Unfortunately, he made the announcement in August while the Indians were in the midst of a pennant race. Cleveland fans howled. Feller explained that he had to make the announcement earlier than planned because the news was going to leak in Cuba. Regardless, Commissioner Happy Chandler ruled that no major leaguer could play in Cuba during the winter. Feller fired back at Chandler, citing that minor leaguers were not restricted by the ruling."Why should a major league player be limited to 30 days of barnstorming when a minor leaguer can play ball all winter?," Feller asked. "Chandler's ruling places a penalty on being a major leaguer."

April 16, 1929 -- In a 5-4, 11-inning Opening Day victory over Detroit at League Park, Indians’ rookie center fielder Earl Averill homers on a 0-2 pitch off Detroit’s hurler Earl Whitehill, becoming the first American Leaguer to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The ‘Earl of Snohomish’ will also be the first future Hall of Famer to accomplish the feat.

April 16, 1935, With the band playing Jingle Bells at Boston's Braves Field on a snowy day with near-freezing temperatures Babe Ruth makes his National League debut for the Boston Braves. “The Babe” belts out two hits, including a 430-foot home run against Carl Hubbell. Ruth’s first NL game draws 25,000 fans, the largest Opening Day crowd in Braves history.

April 16, 1957 -- Before the Phillies' home opener, the team dedicates a statue of Connie Mack as part of the Opening Day ceremonies. The eight-foot statue of the 'Tall Tactician,' which depicts the A's long-time owner and manager with one foot in the dugout and one foot on the top step of it, waving his trademark scorecard to position his players, was created by well-known sculptor Harry Rosin. The 'Tall Tactician'

April 16, 1963: On Opening Day at County Stadium, Eddie Mathews hits the 400th home run of his career off of Phillies' Jack Hamilton. It was a two-run shot, driving in Hank Aaron. At the time, Mathews became 7th on the all-time home run list. Trailing only Ruth, Foxx, Williams, Ott, Gehrig & Musial.

April 16, 1970, Cincinnati Reds ace Jim Maloney tears his Achilles tendon while running the bases and is replaced by rookie left-hander Don Gullett, who wins his first major league game. Although Maloney will eventually make a comeback from the injury, he will never win another game.

April 16, 1972, At Wrigley Field Chicago Cubs rookie Burt Hooton walks seven batters but still manages to hurl a 4-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies. Hooton accomplishes the feat in just his fourth major league game. He has allowed just eight hits in 30 innings with his knuckle-curve.

April 16, 1978, Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies. Forsch, who wins a 5-0 decision, becomes the first Cardinals’ pitcher to pitch a no-hitter in St. Louis since Jesse Haines in 1924. Less than a year later, his brother Ken, of the Houston Astros, will pitch a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves, making the siblings the only brothers to throw complete game no-hitters in major league baseball.

April 16, 1984 -- In his first three at-bats, Oakland A's Dave Kingman hits three home runs, including a grand slam, driving in eight runs against the Seattle Mariners in a 9-6 victory. 'Sky King' will compile five three-round-tripper games during his 16-year career, second only to Johnny Mize, who accomplished the feat six times from 1938 to 1950 while with the Cardinals and Yankees. Kingman's blast comes off starter Matt Young in the 1st and 3rd inn, and off Ed Vande Berg in the 5th inn.

Plus many more . . . .

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: On May 1, 1955, he combined with 21-year-old teammate on one of the most dominating pitching performances ever seen in a doubleheader. In the opener, he pitched a one-hitter over the Boston Red Sox, facing only 29 men; His teammate then fanned the first nine Boston batters he faced and ended with 16 strikeouts and a 2-1 win. The 16 K's were only two short of Feller's then-record 18. Who was he?

IF you think you know the answer and bonus points for how many respond with details and if you are right I will give you a shut out! No Googling!

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 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA: Who was the first player to win the Rookie of the year and the MVP?

Answer: in 1947 Jackie Robinson won the first rookie of the year and 2 seasons later in 1949 he won the MVP Award, thus making him the first to obtain both awards.

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