On this date (Tuesday, May 19, 1908), Rube Waddell returned to Philadelphia for the first time in a St. Louis Browns’ uniform. His Philadelphia “admirers” presented Rube with a shotgun and fishing rod. He went out and beat his old teammates, 5-2. The game drew more than 20,000 fans, a incredible total for the time, especially for a week day game (the As averaged about 5,800 per game in 1908). Without Rube, the Athletics experienced a 27 percent decrease in home attendance from the previous season while the Browns enjoyed 48 percent increase. St. Louis Post-Dispatch WADDELL PAYS FOR SELF IN ONE CONTEST 20,000 Philadelphia Fans Cheer Rube As He Beats His Old Team Mates BY JAMES CRUSINBERRY PHILADELPHIA – All hats off to Rube Waddell today. He turned a trick on dear old Philadelphia that no other ball player in the world could do. He beat the home team and was cheered by 20,000 of the most loyal fans in the world. It was the first time in history that Philadelphia has rooted for the visiting team. The remarkable part of the performance was that every man, woman and child in that immense throng was for Rube Waddell. They were willing to sacrifice victory for their team in a championship game just to see their pitcher of former years win the contract. It was Rube’s day from start to finish. All loyalty to the Athletics was tossed to the wind when Rube Waddell, now with the Browns, was doing the pitching. The great crowd yelled with delight as Rube cut the ball over the played and fanned out the idolized hitters of the home team and the crowd cheered further when the Browns opened up a batting rally in the seventh inning. 20,000 Paid to See Rube Rube paid for himself in one game. All by himself he drew a crowd of 20,000 persons when it is doubtful 4,000 would have attended under ordinary conditions. At least two factories closed their doors at 3:30 o’clock in the afternoon to allow the workmen to attend the game. Business down town was almost suspended. It was not to see the Browns and Athletics play ball that the people thronged the grounds. It was to see Rube pitch once more.
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 21:20:27 +0000
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