The start of something big

After six relief appearances in five weeks since joining Cleveland, Bob Feller makes the first start of his Hall of Fame career 87 years ago today at League Park.

Feller – all of 17 years old – does just fine, too, as he scatters six hits and four walks in a complete-game, 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Browns.

With a Sunday afternoon crowd of 8,500 looking on, Feller strikes out 15 batters, the most ever by an American League rookie.

Feller goes to make seven more starts over the next five weeks for the Indians before returning home to Van Meter, Iowa, and completing his senior year of high school.

Feller goes to pitch 18 seasons in the majors, not including the three full seasons and most of a fourth that he misses from 1942-45 to serve in the Navy.

Feller’s final record is 266-162. He easily is in line to win 300 games if not for missing those three-plus seasons during World War II.