 In 1947 , Feller announced that he would pitch in the Cuban winter league during the off @-@ season , but Commissioner Chandler ruled no major leaguer could play in Cuba . Feller said he would donate his profits from playing in the Cuban winter league to the American Major League players ' pension fund : " I want to prove I 'm not going to Cuba for any selfish interest but because there is a principle involved and that is the right of any ball player to work at his chosen profession " . Feller also believed it was " grossly unfair " that major leaguers who were U.S. citizens could not play in winter leagues but Latin Americans were permitted . Indians owner and president Bill Veeck said , " I have no comment on Bob 's outside activities . I don 't know whether they 've hurt him or not . But I do know this . The great majority of the people of Cleveland think they 've hurt him . " Feller 's barnstorming business savvy and endorsement details made him one of the wealthiest players of his time but he claimed his off @-@ season exhibitions and barnstorming were necessary to pay for increased medical expenses for his family . His first wife developed anemia after giving birth to their second child when she was given the wrong type of blood during transfusions ; she subsequently became addicted to the prescribed medication for her condition . Feller was trying to make up lost earnings as a result , since he missed out on over $ 200 @,@ 000 in salary when he served in the Navy ; he missed more than three major league seasons . Feller 's biographer John Sickels suggested : " They were trying to make money , but part of it was also , he felt that the black players weren 't necessarily getting a fair chance and that he wanted to sort of showcase it . And seeing those , I think , those exhibition games helped people realize that the Negro League players were just as good as the Major League players . " 
