TheBob Feller Act of Valor Award, created in 2013, is a set of awards originally presented annually to a member of theNational Baseball Hall of Fame, a currentMajor League Baseball player, and aUnited States NavyChief Petty Officer.^[1] In 2015, the Act of Valor Award Foundation added theJerry Coleman Award to honor aUnited States Marine CorpsStaff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO), and two more Act of Valor awards for junior sailor peer-to-peer mentoring organizations. The baseball recipients are honored for their support of United States servicemen and women; the military awardees are honored for achievement that represents the character ofBob Feller. The Award is presented by the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation^[2] in conjunction with Major League Baseball, theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, theCleveland Guardians, and with the support of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.^[3]

The award is named forBob Feller, who put his baseball career on hold and became the first American professional athlete to enlist in the armed forces, volunteering for combat service in the United States Navy the day after theattack on Pearl Harbor.^[4] Feller was inducted into theNational Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first time on the ballot. When asked, "What is the most important game you ever won?", he would answer "World War II".^[5] He took great pride in his time in the military, and never once regretted placing service to his country before himself. "I didn’t worry about losing my baseball career. We needed to win the war. I wanted to do my part."^[6] Feller wanted to be remembered as, "An American, who happened to be a ballplayer".^[7] Despite losing almost four full seasons to wartime service, Feller had an impressive baseball career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962. He andJackie Robinson were elected in their first year of eligibility, the first players to be so honored since the inaugural class of 1936. Feller died in 2010.^[8]

Peter Fertig conceived the award. He wrote letters to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum,Major League Baseball, theCleveland Indians, and theUSS Alabama (BB-60), and said that "within six weeks, I had everybody's support". He garnered support from the business community in Cleveland, as well as Feller's widow Anne Feller. Then he worked withIslip, New York, councilman John Cochrane in drafting a proposal. Rear Admiral Michael Jabaley^[9] of the United States Navy helped mentor Peter with gaining official support from the United States Navy. It became an official Navy award onMemorial Day, 2013.^[10]

In 2013, its inaugural year, three awards were given to represent Bob Feller's life as an MLB player, a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, and a National Baseball Hall of Famer. The award also recognized 37 Hall of Fame players, owners, umpires, and broadcasters that served during World War II. Three MLB finalists were named by the award's board of directors, three Navy Chief Petty Officer finalists were selected by the U.S. Navy, and the board of directors selected the Hall of Famer. The announcement of the award took place at the Hall of Fame ceremony on May 25, followed by a presentation to the finalists on July 6, and a selection of the winners onVeterans Day.^[10] The awards were presented at theUnited States Navy Memorial inWashington, D.C.

On July 28, 2015, the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation announced that it would present the Jerry Coleman Award to honor a Marine Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) who "possesses outstanding leadership and unyielding support for the United States Marine Corps and the United States of America". As the 75th Secretary of the Navy, the honorableRay Mabus made the recommendation for the award to the board of directors, explaining that as Secretary of the Navy, he is responsible for the entire Naval community which includes the United States Marine Corps. The award is named afterJerry Coleman, awarded MLB Rookie of the Year (1949), All-Star (1950), and World Series MVP (1950), all with the New York Yankees. Coleman was also a longtime broadcaster for the San Diego Padres and was honored with theFord C. Frick Award, presented by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Coleman served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II and Korea.^[11][12]

Beginning in 2015, along with the Bob Feller and Jerry Coleman Awards, the Foundation added two peer-to-peer mentoring awards, one for afloat and one for ashore organizations. The awards "honor groups of junior Sailors that have excelled in encouraging other Sailors to embody the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and have worked together to promote peer-to-peer mentorship and reduce destructive personal decision-making and behaviors". The Sailors range from ages 18 to 25 years old.^[12][13]

• Roberto Clemente Award
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
• Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award
• Branch Rickey Award
• Jackie Robinson Award

• Major League Baseball trophies and awards
• Awards established in 2013
• 2013 establishments in the United States
• Chief petty officers
• Lists of American military personnel
• United States Navy lists
• United States Marine Corps lists

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from June 2021