Mike Bianchi reflects on Bob Feller's wartime service and its legacy

Mike Bianchi shares a personal account after winning a Bob Feller-autographed baseball during a gathering of Orlando sports media on August 19, 2026. He emphasizes Feller's decision to enlist in the Navy immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, highlighting it as a moment of patriotism where athletes prioritized national service over their careers. Feller became the first professional athlete to volunteer following the attack, reflecting a time when many athletes served in World War II. Bianchi draws contrasts between past and present athletes, suggesting that today's sports figures face different priorities and pressures. He concludes by reminiscing about other athletes who served honorably during wartime amidst the ongoing discourse on patriotism and sacrifice in sports.

• 9:30 AMYahoo Sports — Mike Bianchi: A Bob Feller-signed baseball and a time when country came before career