The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-26

fines. he only had so coming to him for
his work: 81 Of this money was invested
for a suit OF clothes for the twirier. The
rest Of his salary had been eaten UP in
fines. Waddel was more difficult to man
age at that time thin a broncho; and ines
were the only means Of discipline at the
managers hands. He has not improved
much tn good behavior since joining the
ranks Of fast company. and has had many
at the end Of every playing season.
several times during the first season tnat
Waddell pitched the credit was on the
CUBS side OF the ledger, the pitcher OWING
play. but Waddell, little caring about. the
Sa a and hsRs his
to do freakish acts. which he has continued
since and caused himself to become one Of
ever known. Not since the days of the
famous King Kelly has single player
attracted So much attention to himself as
Waddell
RUBE'S FIRST GAME.
"Rube's" name will ever remain fresh in
the minds Of the fans of Franklin. Pa. not
because he was the only stellar light of the
diamond who has ever shone there. as the
same town produced our own Bobby Wal,
lace and Emmett Heidrick. besides Socks
Seybold, Claude Ritchey and Slagle:
Guy Hecker. who once pitched for the
alton. missed chance to sign the famous
pitcher in the middle nineties for his OIL
City team.
One day Hecker was approached by
long whiskered farmer. who announced that
he had boy who was the greatest pitcher
in the TSrd and he wanted to gSt him on
noodle" put him OF with a tiimsy ex-
WHISPERED farmer was named Waddell. and
that he was the father of the now famous
.Rube." whom Hecker refused to give
The following year travelling man in.
duced the Franklin team to give Waddell
q trial. urging that he was gem in the
rough.
RIVALRY OF SMALLER TEAMS.
In those days rivalry between the Frank
lin and OIL City teams was at fever heat,
and the spring of 1895 found both teams
loading up for the campaign. On the Sun
day before the opening game with Oil City
Manager Murphy OF the Franklin team was
notified that the find" had arrived. Muir
pny went et ana .h when
that he was being "joshed." There he was.
on the main corner Of tho town. gaping
ABOUT IN ea1f4v ad With H.
fitting clothes and a SLOUGH hat pulled down
over his head. as though 1t were the mid
die Of winter.
Rube was very enthusiastic over the meet
Ing with his future manager. Arrange
ments for "Rube's'' keeping were made; by
same day the manager Of the team re-
ceived q telephone message from the hotel
proprietor to come over at once Murphy
went over and found the old gentleman in
a rage over the action Of Waddell During
the proprfetor's absence Waddell had gone
into the barn Of the hotel and there to
the amazement Of crowd Of small boys
displayed his pitching ability by hurting
huge stones against the sids of the barn.
There were scarcely a whole board remain
ing in the barn and most of them were COM
pletely shattered
HIS ORIGINAL TACTICS
The opening game between Franklin and
Oil City came around, and as a result Of
the rivalry between the towns betting was
brisk, and on account OF Waddelrs new
ness" the odds were on the other side.
With the game in Franklin's favor, to g.
two men out, and two on bases, an OIL City
player hit weak one into Waddell. He
picked It up Clearly. and after hesitating
q moment threw the ball between the run
ner and the base. The runners on the
Franklin team had scored, and the man
who hit the ball went to third. The Frank
lin team was disguised. the manager OF the
team was in rage, but Wadden only
the grand stand. The manager demanded
an explanation. shaking his fist at the same
time In dangerous proximity to Waddelfs
nose. Imagine the managers surprise and
added anger when Waddell snorted out,
THE mans out: crossed him out" When |
passions were cooled 1t was learned that |
Rube had played the game as he had
learned It in his native town Of Prospect,
Pa. where cross BALI was In vogue.
STANDING OF THE CLUBS.