CLEVELAND (AP) Bob Feller is back watching his beloved Cleveland Indians, a bounce in his step as he is treated for leukemia.
The third-oldest living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame at age 91, Feller said Sunday that he’s “feeling better than I have in weeks,” following two days at Cleveland Clinic and a week of outpatient treatment.
“I just didn’t have my usual energy, so I went in for a checkup and they said my blood count was low,” Feller said. “I spent two days in the hospital and they gave me two quarts of blood. Then they gave me some pills, and I went back every day for a week. They injected three shots of chemo a day.
“I’ve got my energy back. I feel very good. I’ll go back for a checkup next month.”
Feller was at his usual seat in the press box after missing the first five games of the Indians’ current homestand.
He burst on the baseball scene in 1936 as a 17-year-old schoolboy from Iowa. Signed for $1 and an autographed baseball, the right-hander never pitched in the minors and spent 18 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, compiling a 266-162 record. He missed 3 1/2 seasons at the peak of his career to serve in the Navy during World War II.
He pitched three no-hitters and 12 one-hitters. In 1938, he struck out 18 in one game, a record at the time. Two years later, he pitched the only no-hitter on opening day and won a career-high 27 games. Feller’s best season was 1946, when he went 26-15 with a 2.18 ERA, 348 strikeouts, 10 shutouts and 36 complete games.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962, Feller is younger than 92-year-olds Lee McPhail and Bobby Doerr among living members.
Updated August 29, 2010
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