The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-22
Blazing Bob Feller Inks
One-Year Contract With
Cleveland For $4,000
Six Bonus Clauses Tackled
On End OF Document
With Veeck

CLEVELAND, Jan. I'll up -
Blazin' Bob Teller signed a one
year contract with the Cleveland
Indians Tuesday, stipulating the
fireball strikeout king would
receive $4,000 (cq) for his 1947
mound chores.
Six bonus clauses tackled on the
md Of the document, all based on
attendance figures, accounted for
the two Interrogation marks In
Feller's possible earnings, but
president Bill Veeck. wearing a
wide grin and his inevitable open
neck sports shirt, said Bob could
easily soar over $50, 900 this sea-
son.
Both declined to chat about the
base pay called for in the docu-
ment, but the assorted scr;bes and
photographers who filled the ball
clubs offices for the signing cere-
mony agreed among themselves
that it was ''about 5 0,0O0."
If the $50, 900 base is correct, in.
dications were that the former
Iowa farmboy who last season set
an all-time strikeout record of 348
could go as high as $780, 900 this
season.
The best guesses were that the
bonus clauses called for S 1900
when adult home paid attendance
reaches TOO. 900, and S $500 for each
addit; onal 100, 900 attendance until
i, 900, 90 is reached. After that the
bonus per 100, 900 attendance drops
to S., 900, with only two bonuses in
that category allowed.
After the mixing of the contracts,
Teller showed his pleasure by toss
ing a few snowballs while hatless
and coatless Veeck stood in the
weather and smiled ap-
proval. Then Bob hoped into his
automobile and headed for st.
Petersburg, Fla, with his wife and
son, Stevie, for a, months vacation.
Details of the contract had been
worked out by Teller and Week at
previous conferences, but when
Teller walked into the offices Tues
day Veeck asked the sports writ
ers and photographers to Let us
have lust five minutes alone"
They were closeted for 40 minutes
before the photographers were call
ed in to record the history-making
affixing of signatures, Veeck as
surfing one and all that This is
the Mccoy" Both used ne foun-
tain pens. which the Indian prexy
said were guaranteed to Write un-
DER Bourbon"
Teller tucked his pen, property
of the ball club, in his vest pocket.
Veeck, picking up the contract,
said:
Il understand Babe Ruth's big
gest salary was $50, 90. Well, this
will be more" Teller was reported
as receiving more than $75, 900 from
the Indians last year when he won
26, lost Is, had 10 shutouts, and
pitched a no-hitter against the Yam
KEGS along with a couple of one-hit-
tiers. The no-hitter boosted his NAL
league total to two, and he has
contributed eight one-hitters to
the Indian cause.
Teller sad he thought too much
emphasis was being placed on the
Of his contract am wanted
to talk about the Cleveland changes
in the coming flag chase. He
thought the addition of Joe Gordon
at second base would be a big help
The mound star said he would
shoot to beat ANY record l ca1."
this season, but would not concsa
trate on strikeouts as he did in
1916.
Il would like to win 80 games,
said. Il have never won 30,
but maybe this year. l think we
have a better ball club"
At that point a photographer who
had muffed his shot of the signing
asked Teller if he would "Sit in that
chair again." And Veeck quioped:
well, he owns it, why not?"
Teller plans to report Feb. % at
the Tucson, ARR, training base.
He has just loafed, he said, since
ending his transforming tour in
October, and at 1875 POUNDS is just
a DIT over his best playing weight.
He said he'd play some golf ana
tennis, and do some work on th-
rowing machines, while in Florida.