When Pearl Harbor was bombed, one of the Americans who volunteered to serve his country was Bob Feller. Bob was a 23-year-old pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, a phenomenon who had already pitched a no-hitter and won 107 games in the Major Leagues.

Bob was reaching his peak years as an athlete, but he gave up those years to shoot down planes in the Pacific. When he returned to baseball after serving his country, Bob went on to throw three no-hitters, 12 one-hitters, and win 266 games.

But his years of military service—during which he could have won another 80-100 games—cost Bob much of the fame he deserved. When baseball fans elected the All-Century Team in 1999, Bob and his 266 victories were ignored in favor of two other pitchers. Some suggest Feller may be the most underrated baseball player of all time.

Feller was once asked if he regretted his wartime service. "No," he said, "I've made many mistakes in my life. That wasn't one of them."