If there was anyone that would’ve been thrilled to see the Indians get off to such a great start, it is Bob Feller. Especially the way that the Indians are winning- namely with great pitching. Feller of course is the Hall of Fame pitcher that the Cleveland community lost this past winter at the age of 92.
Over the weekend I was driving during one of the Tribe’s rain delays, and heard a couple of Bob Feller stories that were new to me, and I thought might be interesting to you as well. Indians’ Vice President of Public Relations Bob DiBiasio was the one telling them.
DiBiasio and Feller worked together for many years, and formed a strong friendship. Early in DiBiasio’s career Feller gave him a gift that many might consider priceless. The story is centered around the 1983 All-Star game. It was the 50th anniversary of the mid-summer classic, and was held in Chicago. What was really special about this game was that all of the living members of the Hall or Fame were summoned to play an old-timers game. DiBiasio had been selected to help the American League PR staff that weekend. Before any of the events kicked off, the PR man for the American League issued a threat to the staff- do not under any circumstances ask these Hall of Famers for an autograph.
DiBiasio was helping coordinate the on-field introductions before the old timers game was to start. He was standing with the American League PR director when he noticed Bob Feller walking around with a ball and pen in his hand. He was going up to all of the American League legends and getting their autograph. As you can imagine, this didn’t make the PR director very happy, but what could he do? This wasn’t some college kid asking for autographs, it was Bob Feller.
After Feller got the collection of signatures, he walked right over to DiBiasio and handed him the ball saying “I thought you might like this.” That ball, according to DiBiasio is in “a very safe place.” Think of the names on that ball. DiMaggio. Williams. Mantle. Wynn.
The second story centers around the 1995 Indians. Feller had a permanent seat in the Tribe press box, but when the Indians went to Seattle for game six of the ALCS, Feller traveled on his own to see the team take on Randy Johnson and the Mariners. After the game was won DiBiasio was out on the field, directing players to various media outlets for interviews when he saw Feller jump the railing by the visitor’s dugout. It was about a seven foot drop. Pretty impressive for a man in his seventies.
Unfortunately for Bob, the security officers on duty didn’t recognize him.
DiBiasio said he sprinted towards the scene screaming “That’s Hall of Famer Bob Feller! That’s Hall of Famer Bob Feller!” The security detail had Feller pinned to the wall ready to take him away before DiBiasio could get there and rescue him.
That I would love to see video of.