Contact: Kenneth Billings
STARKVILLE, Miss.--As the Cleveland Indians battle the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, someone at Mississippi State can claim the distinction of throwing at least one regular-season strike for the Tribe.
Recently, university President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong took the mound at the Ohio city's Jacobs Field to toss the first pitch to his good friend, baseball Hall of Fame hurler Bob Feller. The Indians went on to win 5-4 over the Kansas City Royals.
Foglesong's visit to the home of the 2007 Central Division champs was the third time he has delivered an opening pitch--all strikes--for Cleveland since 2001.
"My first time there was shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks," the retired four-star Air Force general said earlier this week. "The country was going through a lot at that time and I felt it was the patriotic thing to do."
It was at that game that the lifelong Indians fan met Feller, an inspirational figure from Foglesong's West Virginia childhood. The Indians organization has served as the backdrop for their burgeoning friendship ever since.
Foglesong said he and Feller were drawn together out of mutual respect, as well as a common background that had nothing to do with baseball.
"We met in the owner's booth and struck up a conversation," Foglesong explained of their initial meeting. "I found out he was a gunner in World War II and my father was in World War II, so we had a lot to talk about. From that we have formed a lasting relationship."
Feller pitched his first game for the Indians in 1936. After the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, however, the former Iowa farm boy who had earned the nickname "Bullet" for his powerful arm put aside his baseball career to enlist the following morning.
A year after returning home from Navy service on the USS Alabama, the highly decorated war veteran rejoined the Indians to resume his stellar career, which lasted until 1956 and included a World Series win. For pre- and post-war pitching achievements--including the first American League no-hitter in 1940--Feller was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Foglesong said he and Feller have been guests in each others homes on several occasions and he's even had the opportunity to practice his pitching technique at Feller's residence.
It was Feller's request that recently brought Foglesong back to Jacobs Field to make that first pitch, with Feller as catcher.
Bullet Bob's legendary status notwithstanding, Foglesong said it is something far more meaningful that he admires. "What I admire most about Bob is his patriotism and service-before-self attitude," he explained.
"He is not only passionate about baseball, but he also is passionate about the United States of America," the career military officer added. "Most importantly, he has the courage to say what he believes about our freedom."
To return the favor, Foglesong said he plans to invite his "teammate" to toss out the first pitch for a Bulldog game in the 2008 season.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.