Bob Feller Remembers Friends Forever - As Told By Coach Walpole

Okay, when I retired, a boy that I had coached was working for Morgan Stanley and he asked me if I wanted to go out to Arizona to coach a team that he was on. There was a 40 and over-year-old team of you know former players from college and high school and stuff like that. So, I went out there and I went out there a second time after that. But I was getting used to the routine of going out there and the following year he asked me if I would coach an all-star team made up of Legends from the past. So, I said, “Sure that sounds great.”

So, anyway the people that were on that team were legendary names, with the most legendary name on that team, who was going to throw out the first pitch, was a 70 year old man named Bob Feller. Now, Bob Feller was one of the most well-known pitchers of his era. Maybe, probably the fastest pitcher of all time at that time.

My friend said to me, “He's coming by plane. Can you pick him up at the airport, bring him back to the hotel, bring him back to the game the next day, and bring him to a golf tournament?” So, I said, “Sure.” So, anyway, the following week, we went out there and I picked up Mr. Feller at the airport and I met him and he said, “Are you here to pick me up?” And I go, “Yeah” He says, “That's good.” He says, “You know you're a little late.” So, I said, “Yeah, I got caught a little traffic.” So, he says, “All right.” One of the most unfriendly people I have ever run into at the time. But I didn't know him and this is about knowing people-

We rode back to the hotel. We spoke about baseball. I had studied his entire career. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians when he was 15 years old. They hid him down in Mexico, so no-one would find out about him. He stayed with the Indians because they originally signed him, although they could have gotten, he and his dad, could have gotten much more money from other teams but he stayed with the Indians out of allegiance to them. He's in the Hall of Fame and his legend, you know, goes on to this day. 

So, why don't I spend a couple of days with him and during that time we went to a dinner and all he did at the dinner was sign autographs, sign menus. At the game, he would sit outside with one of the other players, sign autographs, sign menus. At the golf tournament, he signed autographs, he signed menus. And that was basically it.

The last night I was with him, I had to drive him from Phoenix back to where we were staying. We were driving alone on a dark road that night and I said, “Bob, for what it's worth, I have never seen anybody sign as many autographs as you. And he goes, “You know, I've really enjoyed your time, this time you spent with me and I know you know baseball and I feel comfortable talking with you.” He says, “Do you want to know why I do that?” And I go, “Yeah.” And he goes, “Because when I sign autographs, I signed kids whose fathers have said, ‘That guy is famous. Go over and get his autograph.’ I signed adults who know who I was and they want my autograph. I sign things everywhere I go.” 

And he goes, “And I do it for one reason.” And at that time, we're driving on a dark road in Arizona and he looks at me and says, “I sign it because right now I know that one of those autographs I signed is being looked at by some kid in this country or some adult in this country and they will try to find out who I am if they don't know who I am and when they have to read about me, they have to read about the people I grew up with. 

He goes, “Between growing up and playing in the major leagues, my best friend was a man named Lou.” And he goes, “He and I were together for as many years as I can remember and he died.” And he says, “He died on me about 5 years ago.” And he says, “I remember being there.” And he says, “But, you know what, some kid is reading his name right now and that brings him back to Earth for one more day.

He says, “Some kid has him in his mind. Some adult has him in his mind and they go, ‘Wow, what a contribution he made to baseball. And for me, that is my memory that I will always keep - Lewis back with me for today. Hi Lou. I hope you're doing okay.”