The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-23
WADDELL DENIES.
Says He Will Not Soldier in Champion-
ship Series.

Philadelphia, Sept. 23.-"Rube"
Waddell, the big south paw pitcher of
the Philadelphia American league club,
has broken the long silence that he
has maintained in regard to the ugly
rumors that have been going the
rounds of the eastern baseball world.
THESE rumOrS have been to the effect
that the erractic 'phenom' had abb
sented himself from the game because
he had been bribed to do SO in order
that the New York Nationals might
win the worlds championship series,
that there was nothing the matter with
his arm, and that he was soldering
ON his team mates.
Waddell sent a long statement to a
local paper which severely roasted him
in g three column article for his sus-
picious actions in the last Boston and
New York series-asserting that Wad-
dell was seen to throw ball overland
with his supposedly injured arm more
than sixty feet, and also that he was
observed using a bat as an Indian
club, denying that there was any
truth in these rumors, and claiming
that he had pitched his arm out, but
hoped to be in condition to take his
turn in the box against the New York
Giants. In part Wadden says:
Nov. in the first place. l will most
emphaticaily dSAy lf1at [ have been
soldering or have lever been APP
preached by any one in regard to
for that purpose. 1t pains me awfully
to think that of all the years have
been playing ball such charges like
these should be made. I wish that /
could lay my hands on the person or
parties who first started these base and
most infamous charges. I would GER
tainly make it hot for them.
sI have too much pride i'll my club
and my club mates and manager to
even think of such a thing. Just to
think how I, who have been SO we'll
treated and made so much of by the
baseball patrons of the country, ever
could bring the game into dlsrepute-
would rather lose my left arm than
betray the confidence reposed in me
by the sporting public. AS for my
arm, it certainly is a puzzle to me, Tor
every time l go to throw the ball 1t
hurts me terribly. I hope that it will
will win the pennant, and then for
the worlds series with the New York
Giants. If 1 am in condition it will be
the greatest effort of my life to beat
'Muggsy' McGraw's crowd"
The article in question was written
by a sporting writer on an afternoon
paper who has been travelling with
the Athletics and was published yes
peculiar and mystifying action on the
part of "Rube,' the correspondent
continues:
eff there is any truth in all these
TuTnOrS, II is ndTQ 10 IdlHOIn WllSlACI
the New York club management or a
band of gamblers are behind the das-
tardly plot The first I heard of il
was about three weeks ago. when a
we'll known bookmaker visited this
city and in local cafe offered to
wager $500 then and there that if the
Athletics won the American league
pennant they would not beat the
Giants in the worlds series. Ask fol-
his reasons, and after no one present
volunteered to cover his wager, this
bookmaker said: 4 admit that with
Waddell pitching the Athletics ear
whip New York. But without Wad-
dell the Athletics don't amount te
much. and don't class with the Giants
Waddell is all there is to that Athletic
team. Now, you don't suppose that
the New York club will let little
matter of $4,000 or $4,000, or ever
$4,000, stand in their way to prevent
them from winning the series which
will mean so much to them, do you
Why if the Giants lost that series they
might just as we'll shut up the polo
grounds and go out of business New
York has no use for losers.
The paper in printing WaddelFs de.
NAL says it is now up to him to prove
that he is loyal to the Athletics by go
! ing in and pitching the winning bal
| that he is capable of.