Bob Feller |
LOS ANGELES -– Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller began his professional baseball career by receiving $1 and an autographed baseball from the man who signed him to his first Major League contract, the late Cy Slapnicka. Next month, Slapnicka’s name will be engraved on one of Feller’s latest honors and pieces of baseball memorabilia as the pair will be presented with the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s first Player/Scout Award at the Foundation’s 7th Annual “In The Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation has helped baseball scouts in need due to job loss, illness or financial hardships during the past six years through the success of the annual “In The Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular. Dennis Gilbert heads the foundation.
“I can’t think of a better pair of baseball gentlemen to honor with our inaugural Player/Scout Award,” Gilbert said. “These two men are woven into the fabric of a pivotal period in baseball history and I’m looking forward to hearing the Bob Feller-Cy Slapnicka story all over again. I only wish Cy could be with us to reminisce and share his company with all of us. Bob and Cy are being honored in conjunction with such an important cause, and we thank everyone who is throwing their support towards our beloved baseball scouts by attending our January event.”
Feller, 91, who became baseball’s earliest living Hall of Fame inductee in 1962, will receive the Player/Scout Award on behalf of Slapnicka and himself from Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation Board of Directors member Roland Hemond at the gala, which is annually attended by 1,500 guests, including many prominent figures from the world of sports, entertainment and media.
Growing up on an Iowa farm where his father built him a baseball diamond long before “Field of Dreams” ever hit the theaters, Feller built his arm strength by milking cows, shoveling manure and baling hay. Feller claims that he first learned the dynamics to his devastating, trademark curveball as a 9-year-old while twisting his wrist and throwing the ball during a game of catch with his father, and is credited with having the fastest pitch ever clocked in a game – 107.9 mph in 1946 at Griffith Stadium.
Feller was a natural pitching talent discovered by a fellow Iowan, Slapnicka, then a Cleveland Indians’ scout, who later became general manager of the club. Slapnicka gave Feller a $1 check and an autographed batting practice baseball in exchange for Feller’s signature on a Major League contract at age 16. Feller made his Major League debut with Cleveland in 1936, at age 17, and was the youngest player to win a Major League game.
An eight-time All-Star and 1948 World Series champion, Feller spent his entire career with the Indians, posting a 266-162 record with a 3.25 ERA and 2,581 strikeouts (all franchise records). He led the American League in strikeouts in seven seasons and won the AL’s Triple Crown for pitching in 1940, when he led the league with 27 wins, a 2.61 ERA and 261 strikeouts. He threw three no-hitters, including the only Opening Day no-hitter on April 16, 1940, and an MLB record-tying 12 one-hitters.
Feller set aside his budding baseball career (he was an All-Star from 1939-41) to become the first Major League player to volunteer for World War II. He was on the way to sign a contract with the Indians for the 1942 season when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and Feller immediately decided to join the Navy. Ten days after the war was over, Feller re-joined the Indians and ended up playing the last five weeks of the 1945 season. He went on to pitch 11 more years.
Born in 1886, Cyril Charles Slapnicka was a baseball man through and through. He pitched with the Chicago Cubs in 1911 and Pittsburgh Pirates in 1918. In 10 career games, Slapnicka was 1-6 with a 4.30 ERA and one save. He was Cleveland’s general manager from 1935-1940 before serving as an Indians scout until he retired in 1961. He signed 31 major league players, including Feller and Bob Lemon. Slapnicka passed away Oct. 20, 1979 in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa at age 93.
Other honorees at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s 2010 “In the Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular include Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and former Los Angeles Dodgers star Manny Mota and his family.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s 2009 honorees included Bill Bartholomay, the Buddy Bell family, Bobby Cox, Preston Gomez, Tony Gwynn, Larry King, Dave Winfield and scouts Ralph Avila, Stan Benjamin, Eddie Bockman, Joe DiCarlo, Tom Giordano, Al LaMacchia and Joe Lewis.
In years past, the event has honored many legendary baseball Hall of Fame players, managers, scouts, coaches and executives, including Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, and Cal Ripken, Jr., as well as Goose Gossage, Whitey Herzog, Eric Gagne, Curt Schilling, Olympic Gold Medalist Jennie Finch, the Boone Family, the Brett family, the Alou family, Major League Baseball executive Pat Gillick, the Boeckmanns, legendary baseball scouts George Genovese, Dave Garcia, Hank King, Gene Bennett, Mel Didier, Epy Guerrero, Moose Johnson, Lenny Yochum and the late Bob Zuk. Past attendees include: MLB Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig, Rod Carew, Tommy Lasorda, Frank McCourt, Arte Moreno, Jerry Reinsdorf, Lew Wolff, Mark Attanasio, Brady Anderson, Bret Saberhagen, Chase Utley, Darrell Evans, Don Newcombe, Barry Zito, Joe Borchard, Alyssa Milano, Don Johnson, Tom Arnold, Jane Seymour, James Keach, Michael McDonald, Donnie Most, Mary Hart and Kenny Loggins.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are available to the public by calling 310-996-1188.
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