On the recordDecember 18, 2010
today I have submitted a resolution honoring Robert ``Bob'' Feller, who passed away 2 days ago. Bob Feller was a great Iowan, great baseball player, and most importantly, a great patriot. He was born and raised in Van Meter, IA. His father ran the family farm, and his mother was a registered nurse and teacher. His father built a baseball diamond on the farm that he named ``Oak View Park.'' Feller attended Van Meter High School, where he was a starting pitcher. Feller recalled his childhood: ``What kid wouldn't enjoy the life I led in Iowa? Baseball and farming, and I had the best of both worlds.'' Bob Feller went on to have one of the greatest baseball careers ever. His career spanned 16 seasons, during which he had 2,581 strikeouts and 266 wins. He had three no-hitters and 12 one-hitters. It is no surprise that Mr. Feller was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility. But, we do not just honor Feller because of his athletic achievements. We recognize him as a great American and patriot. He served our Nation in the Navy during World War II, enlisting 2 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although he lost four baseball seasons due to his war service, he never regretted his choice. Feller said recently, ``A lot of folks say that had I not missed those almost four seasons to World War II--during what was probably my physical prime--I might have had 370 or even 400 wins. But I have no regrets. None at all.
