The trucks packed with gear are leaving for Goodyear, Ariz., a promissory note that baseball will soon arrive.
Pitchers and catchers will report on Feb. 17, all players will report by Feb. 21 and the Indians will kick off their spring training slate against the Cincinnati Reds on March 1.
Spring is near and baseball is coming. Here’s a roundup of Indians notes to pass the time.
Presidential Medal
The Indians have started a campaign with the goal of awarding the late Bob Feller with the Presidential Medal of Freedom via a petition.
The petition, filed on WhiteHouse.gov on Wednesday, needs 100,000 signatures in 30 days to warrant a response from the White House.
As of Friday morning, the petition had 7,676 signatures. Yogi Berra, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Robinson and Jackie Robinson are some of the players who have been awarded this honor in the past.
Feller holds the distinction of being the first baseball player to enlist in the U.S. Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
“In addition to the incredible and lasting impact Bob made on the Indians organization, we think his meritorious contribution to the security and national interests of the United States makes him worthy of consideration for the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” said Indians Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio in a release.
The petition can be viewed at indians.com/Feller.
Jim Thome and Albert Belle, two members of the lethal 1995 Indians lineup, are each being named to the Indians Hall of Fame, along with former player/manager Frank Robinson and Charlie Jamieson.
The foursome will be inducted in a ceremony on July 30 at Progressive Field. One question remaining is if Belle will attend, as he at times had a rocky relationship with fans.
Thome said he hasn’t talked with Belle recently but hopes that he can be a part of the festivities as well.
“It would be wonderful,” Thome said. “I think it’d be great for him, personally, and I think it’d be great for the city.”
Does Thome have a favorite Belle story?
“We might have to sit for a long time, there’s many of them,” Thome said, laughing. “Albert was a true competitor. He played it right. He did it right. He competed at a level I don’t think personally I’ve ever seen.
“He was one of the most tenacious not only right-handed players [I have seen] but when it was clutch time, he was as good as there was.”
Shoulder ready
All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis underwent a shoulder program this winter after he was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation in August.
The program was more of a cautionary one to make sure Kipnis’ shoulder was properly healed and strengthened after the injury.
It mostly affected his throwing motion, though Kipnis’ production at the plate also took a dip compared to his torrid first half.
“For the last three months, Monday-Wednesday-Friday was a little physical therapy, which was to strengthen everything around the shoulder,” Kipnis said. “It was a good offseason. It went really well. I think we’re getting smarter every year we go through this, knowing what works for me, knowing how to handle my body and what it needs to get ready for the season.”
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ