Читать книгу Bad Boys, Bad Times. The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Prewar Years, 1937–1941 онлайн

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In his story, McAuley reported that most Major League teams flouted the rules on a regular basis. However, this case received national attention due to Feller’s spectacular accomplishments while still only a schoolboy. How could he have gotten to the Majors so fast? According to McAuley, the Indians’ chief scout, Cyril “Cy” Slapnicka, had allegedly signed Feller, then behind closed doors had transferred him to the Class D Fargo-Moorhead club of the Northern League.

The two organizations had a working agreement that kept Feller safely away from the other Major League teams. However, after the pitcher signed his Cleveland contract, the Des Moines, Iowa, club attempted to acquire Feller. They were puzzled by the actions of both Bob and his father William, neither of whom showed any interest in a deal. The Des Moines rep had no inkling that the Fellers had already been spoken for. When Bob set his American League strikeout record at the tail end of the baseball season, the Des Moines people knew somebody, probably Cleveland, had pulled a fast one. Lee Keyser, the Des Moines owner, wasted no time in filing a grievance with the commissioner’s office. The chances of recovering Feller were nil, whereas the likelihood for a cash settlement was a good bet.