On this date (June 9, 1903), Rube Waddell scattered four singles to beat the Chicago White Sox, 7-1, but that was only part of the show: Philadelphia Inquirer ONLY FOUR BINGLES MADE OFF WADDELL Not Only Plays Hoss With Chicagoans, But Adds to the Afternoon’s Gayety But for his own indiscretions in the ninth inning, when he made a wild throw to third to head off Green when he should have thrown to first and retired Callahan, Rube Waddell would have shut out Chicago yesterday. But this was only one expression of the Ruben’s ebullient and versatile eccentricity with which he favored the spectators during the afternoon. Whether at the bat or in the box he was always doing or trying to do something calculated to add to the gayety of the afternoon, and it was well perhaps that he did, for the game itself, despite the respectability of the error column, was a rather dreary affair. In two of his three ventures at bat Rube struck out, and when he went to the plate the fourth time he anticipated the umpires’ rulings by calling the strikes himself. This departure pleased the crowd greatly. Owen tried to fool him with a slow one on the third attempt, but Rube caught it in the middle and sent it out to left. When five feet or so from the plate Rube fell to his knees, and went through the form of praying that Hallman would muff the ball—much after the style of the clown in the pantomime. Had anyone else done this it would have been voted a bore, but interpreted by Rube the spectators accepted it as being excruciatingly funny. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 9, 1906 Los Angeles Herald WADDELL CANT FLY HIS KITE MANAGER MACK OF ATHLETICS PLACES BAN Rubes Bean Shooter Taken Away and He is Not Allowed to Play Marbles in the Gutter With Newsboys Manager Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics possess one of the greatest pitchers in the person of one Rube Waddell, whose name illuminates the Quaker city club pay roll. At the same time Mr. Mack owns a youngster who must needs be mollified with amusements not in keeping with his position as a major league ball player. To avoid all chance of mishap to the precious twirler Mack is placing a curb on the juvenile life. One of the first things Mr. Mack did following the thumb accident was to take Rubes bean shooter away from him. It seemed like a harsh and cruel thing to do, but at the same time Connie cannot be too careful. Suppose that Rube, in a spirited bean battle, should blind a little playmate or get a lima bean lodged in his own eye. His batting would be ruined, and the team might lose the best pitcher in the business. Waddell kicked a little when the bean shooter was taken from him, but he soon forgot all about it. Thus encouraged, Connie laid down another rule. Hereafter Rube must not fly his kite from the housetops. The roofs are too dangerous. An open scuttle or unguarded light shaft might precipitate Mr. Waddell to the bottom and break something, to say nothing of the loss of the kite. He left all his kites at home, with the understanding that when the trip ends he may fly one in the ball yard every morning. Still another edict stung Rube in a tender spot. He must cut out playing marbles in the gutter. The sport is undignified and very trying on clothes. But that isnt the real reason. A waffle wagon might come along at any moment and run over Rubes heel. While not as valuable as his thumb, the heel is an important adjunct to any pitcher while hurling the elusive sphere. Hanging to the rear of steps of ice wagons is another exhilarating but dangerous form of sport on which Connie put the ban. Nothing in that line for Rube this summer, no matter how hot the weather. The slippery chunks of ice sometimes slide out while jolting over crossings, and it would be Mr. Waddells luck to get his block knocked off. That would give his enemies a chance to say that he was a victim of hard luck. In fact there seems nothing left for poor Rube but to play ball this summer and run the plain ordinary risks of the ball yard. Thus far there have been no restrictions on peanuts.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:56:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015