Two pitchers

            The news on December 16 confirmed that baseball pitcher Cliff Lee had signed a 5-year contract with the Phillies for $120 million, or an average of $24 million a year. If he stays healthy and averages 32 games a year, he will earn $750,000 per game.  At an average of 100 pitches per game, that comes to $7,500 per pitch. Not bad.

            Cliff Lee is a pretty good pitcher. He won only 12 games in 28 starts last year, but he has two Cy Young awards and a fine 7-2 post-season record.

            The papers on December 16 also announced the death of Bob Feller. He had been the oldest living member of Baseball's Hall of Fame, having been enshrined in 1962.  in spite of losing four years of his prime to the military in WW II, Feller won 266 games in his career, five of them before his 18th birthday. He was, incidentally, the first major leaguer to sign up when he joined the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor. He boasted often that he was the only chief petty officer in the Hall of Fame.

            Feller was more than just a pretty good pitcher. He tossed three no-hitters and 12 one-hitters, and had 2,581 career strikeouts. In 1946, his first year back  from the war, he had 26 wins, 36 complete games, 10 shutouts, and 348 strikeouts. Stats like that today are simply unimaginable.

            I saw Feller up close twice. The first time was in 1954 when my dad took me to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox play the league-leading Indians. We sat in the first row behind the visitors' bullpen. Late in the game Feller warmed up. Right in front of me. I can still remember his fluid motion, the hop on his fastball, and the pop of the catcher's mitt. For a baseball-crazy kid like me, that was really special.

            The second time was a few years ago when Feller was guest speaker at the annual promotion shindig for the Edenton Steamers. After dinner Feller sat and autographed dozens of baseballs, including one for this big kid. I gave the ball to my grandson Cole who is as much a fan as I am. Every once in a while I ask Cole if he still has that ball. He always responds with that little smile of his, the only answer I need.

            I don't think Bob Feller was ever paid $100,000 for any one season. If the Yankees were willing to put up $150 million for Cliff Lee, what would they put up today for Bob Feller in his prime?