Few Pitchers Start

FEW PITCHERS START their first major league game with greater performance than Bob Feller. In 1936, his astounding number of strikeouts led sportswriters to nickname him “Rapid Robert.”

After drawing statewide attention as a high school pitcher, the Van Meter, Iowa, native signed with the Cleveland Indians at age 16. When word leaked of the illegal arrangement, baseball commissioner Kenesaw Landis fined Cleveland $7,500 and declared Feller a free agent. Although the Detroit Tigers made a strong bid for his services, the Iowa farm boy decided to go to the Indians.

Although Feller still lacked a year of high school and any minor league experience, Cleveland pitched him in a July exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 17-year-old hurler quickly notched eight strikeouts in three innings.

After several relief appearances by Feller, manager Steve O’Neill granted the ballplayer a start against the St. Louis Browns. Working his fastball perfectly, the youthful pitcher fanned 15 batters in a complete game 4–1 victory. He allowed only six hits and walked four. And his 15 strikeouts were just one short of the American League record at the time and two shy of the major league mark.

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POINT Just imagine being 17 years old and pitching in the majors. Then picture yourself winning by striking out more than half the batters that you face. Your photograph appears on the front page of the sports section. Your story headlines radio and movie theater newsreels. Word of your accomplishment spreads. Everyone knows about you.

More than 2,000 years ago, word of a gifted man spread even though there weren’t any newspapers, radios, or TV stations. Word of Jesus Christ crossed the world. Everyone soon knew about his gift of salvation. The apostle Paul took the gospel into new cities. Sometimes the Good News spread rapidly with many people becoming Christians. Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray that would continue.

And we should pray for the same thing today.

GOAL! Listen and watch for sports news that spreads quickly. Pray that the Good News of Jesus Christ will spread rapidly, too.