Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-01
ECCENTRIC RUDE
Some of the Character
istics of WaddeI|
That Have a Tendency to Make
His Manager Gray.
A Few Of the Incidents in His Me-
teoric Career.

One of the most unique figures IN
modern baseball is George Edward
n;ubc) Waddcli Of the AlhlctlcS: hui
lar during his career on the dilihoito
he has caused more gray hairs 10 en-
tcrsriSinS managers than amy oticf man
who Wore IA uniform. His antics "n!ie
with Fittsburg four years ago Were
harmless at first, but as the season pro
crossed nc would time and again IAN 70
appear when advertised to pitch.
tion one occasion Rubc was mlSSilS'
ando Il hunt finally located the big t"ifI@i'
standing on ii box in front of Il tcn-ctnt
SidcShow cNhOrting the crowd u coint III
and see the wonderful cherry cat. ORGY
fuss soon tired of tins by-play. ana n"ti-
ned Waddel that the mad sold INN 10 L
minor league club.
Il won't 30, said Rube. unless s'e
half the purchase money.
An right" responded Barney, 4 nave
sold You for q box of StOSie..
The Eube then jumped the team ana
WIS finally signed by Connie Mack, itnd
barring an occasional outbreak. pitched
great bail i'll 1890, being II factor IN the
Athletics winning the championship III
that YEAR One day the Eubc was no
where to be found ana Mack sent scouts
to All his usual haunts. but without sue
cess. lie w:iS finally found IN Cl'nd" n, y.
j., tending bar III Il beer saloon. and ;tb-
soiutcly rcfus. d to return to Philadelphia
He then dropped out OF SiSht lof t"o
or thre days. and AGAIN turned up ~
the saloon, donncd his White apron, ana
I ldflu'u t!It .lfuDtl lltlu oN'i ~ ''t>i W 81
crowd OF admirers. Mack finally induced
him to return to the Told, when all went
we'll for u while, until one AFTERNOON 1t
spectator i'll the grand Stand nEde some
d, Sparing remark to the big pitcher. vino
threw the ball on the ground, jumped into
the grand stand. grabbed the offender by
the neck and hustled him OUT. He WI;
arrested fer this, but the case was Set
tied out of court.
Another time when pitching against
Baltimore. the Ttupe called IN the out
/ felders, and sent the lniltldcrS TO the
bench and struck out the next two bats
men iron another occasion he failed to
turn up and was found on Il vacant lot
pitching Il game for n SchGolboy team,
and refused to go to tn" bal park until
he had struck out the side. At Cape May
! he was billed to pitch against the sea
shore nine. but did not like the job. To
Get away from the task. ii" walked out to
the edge of the pier and deliberately fell
overheard When he was hauled out OF
the water he laughed ut his rc$cucrS.
Fires Were the Rubes delight and he
would follow a fire engine for blocks and
insist upon helping the frmen to quell
tn. flames. He is credited with saving 1T
least two lives in this manner. One brave
feat he performed was the rescue of two
worllmen who were caught under Il guam
/ tity of falling earth while working in an
excavation ON the street. The RUDE on
this occasion not only directed the move
i rcnts of the rescuers but worked like Il
| Trojan until the men We're taken out.
Ills experiences on the stage in The
Stain OF Guilt was one unbiolen chain of
! adventures. He persisted in coming out
ut the wrong time. seldom knew his lines,
and insisted in occupying the center of the
, stage at all times. The management was
at last compelled to put Rube'S trunk on
, the street. and refused to let him enter
the theatre. After this experience he
, tried his hand ut the butchering business
and after he had manSled pound after
round of choice steaks. chops and roaSts
h" WAS cast adrift. Driving Il hack was
his next venture but after he had ruined
two or three good horses and scared the
wits out of at least halfdozcn passen-
gers he lost his job.