During the 18 seasons he played for the Indians, the Hall of Fame pitcher didn't give an inch to the hated New York Yankees.
So it came as no surprise Thursday when the spry, 88-year-old Feller said the new Heritage Park at Jacobs Field needn't take a back seat to Monument Park at Yankee Stadium, where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and other Yankees stars are enshrined.
"I would say Heritage Park and Monument Park are equal," Feller said a few minutes after the ribbon-cutting ceremony on a sunny, cool afternoon. "The Yankees have a great history, but the monuments here are much nicer."
Heritage Park is ready for the Indians' home opener, which is 4:05 p.m. April 6 against the Seattle Mariners.
Located beyond the center-field wall in what formerly was a picnic area, Heritage Park was built during the past off-season. On the park's two circular tiers, bronze plaques chronicling the lives and on-field exploits of Feller and other Tribe greats are affixed to concrete standards.
The plaques for Feller and 13 other former Tribe players enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame are on the upper tier. So is the plaque for former Indians manager and player Al Lopez.
On the lower tier are plaques for members of the Indians Hall of Fame. They include the late Mel Harder, a longtime Chardon resident.
Also displayed are wall tiles bearing the names and facsimile autographs of Andre Thornton, Albert Belle and other players on the Top 100 Indians Roster announced during the franchise's centennial season of 2001.
"I probably met all of 'em, even Shoeless Joe Jackson," Feller quipped. "But seriously, it's great for the fans to be able to connect to all these players who've worn the Cleveland uniform."
There are two plaques honoring former Tribe shortstop Ray Chapman on the lower tier. One was created along with the other new plaques by E.P.I., a Peninsula company.
The second, larger plaque was cast in Chapman's honor shortly following his death in August 1920. Chapman, 29, died after being hit in the head by a pitch from Carl Mays of the Yankees.
The second Chapman plaque was found late last year in a storage room at Jacobs Field after spending decades stashed beneath an escalator at the old Cleveland Stadium. The plaque was restored to original condition by E.P.I. and is perhaps the most eye-catching of the displays at Heritage Park.
Christopher A. Wynn of Osborn Architects & Engineers in Cleveland designed Heritage Park. Wynn said one of the keys to the design process was creating a natural-looking screen for the park so fans can move through the displays while games are being played.
Wynn and Feller both identified Indians vice president for public relations Bob DiBiasio as a driving force behind Heritage Park.
"This franchise is one of the oldest institutions in the city, dating back to the 1880s," DiBiasio said. "Wins and losses matter, but this park allows us to celebrate the history of the franchise on a daily basis."
Fans anxious to get a sneak peek at Heritage Park can do so between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, during "Saturday in the Park." Admission is free. Food items and nonalcoholic beverages will cost $1.
One thing fans won't be allowed to do from Saturday on at Jacobs Field is smoke. The ballpark is now smoke-free.
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