The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-08
Mack Sells Noted SOuthpaw
Clever Pitcher to McAleer
in Interest of Harmony.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. S.-After six
sensational years with the Athletics,
Southpaw "Rube" Waddell, undoubt-
edly the most-talked-of character in
baseball today, has been sold by Con-
ME Mack.
Next season the giant with a Sam
sons arm and an infants brain will
pitch for the ST. Louis Americans.
The deal that gave this unexpected
piece of news to the fans was COM
pleted yesterday in the Office of Man
ager Mack.
When the papers had been signed.
Manager James McAleer, who came all
the way from st. Louis to purchase
the southpaw, said:
"Well, Connie, / consider I am taking
a great load off your mind"
YES" responded Connie, "but you'd
better get out of town quickly, for
Rube'n have a 'Send-me-a-hundred'
message on the wire the instant he
hears the news
The price paid for Waddell was not
divulged. Various guesses We're made,
ranging all the way from $4,000 to
$40, 900, but Mr.. Mack resolutely de-
elined to state the exact sum.
Not a Question Of Money.
eThe money was no factor in the
deal" he explained. Il wanted a trade,
and have tried all winter TO get a
pitcher in exchange for the Rube, but
the men they offered me were no better
than cast-offs or youngsters of less
promise than those I am trying to de-
velop. What money I realized from the
trade / expect to spend in the purchase
of pitchers, so that no let down of the
boXnlen will cheat us out of a pennant
as it did last year"
The news travelled over town inside
of an hour that Philadelphia was to
lose the star who, in his stay here, re-
ceived the contrasting limits OF hero
worship and abuse.
Nearly all those on the outside were
astonished, for, despite his lapse at the
end of last season, RUDE pitched plenty
of fine ball for Mack's men, m on the
last Western trip really kept the club
in the running.
But to those who know the strained
relations existing between Waddell and
his team mates, it vas nc surprise to
find Mr.. Mack, in the interest of har-
mony, sacrificing the man who has won
him more dollars at the box office than
any other player he ever had.
The license permitted Waddell was
always a cause of discord. Players
who kept in good condition, and gave
the best they had to the club, never
could reconcile themselves to the fact
that the one ma for whom there were
no rules was Waddell.
Rube Was Above Criticism.
Rube could desert the club, he could
work on both sides of the bar, he could
go fishing in a crisis when his services
were most needed, he could take spec
tacular flight into a stage career when
his mates were battling for a pennant,
he could develop mythical ills in his
pitching arm, and spend weeks in idle
ness, yet there was always forgiveness
for him
This feeling reached an acute stage in
1905. when Rube's mysterious falf-down
made Plank pitch virtually all the
games that were won in the last six
weeks of he season.
1t was bad in 1906 and during the
championship seaso of 1907, but the
climax came when, at the end of the
year of disappointment, the men went
on a transforming trip.
Here Rube's excuses led to a number
of quarrels, which resulted in physical
encounters, and threatened absolute
mutiny in the team if the big fellow
signed for another yea
This led to the finish, but it was not
until Mr.. Mack had signed Krause,
Hartman, Bills. Maxwell, Schlitzer,
Flater and Carter as pitching material,
from whom he hopes to get a couple of
twirlers to aid Plank, Dygert. Coombs,
Bender and Vickers, that the lean man
ager at las cut the strings that bound
him to the fiighty giant.
caves a Friend in Connie.
With all the Reuben has lone to add
to the woes of his manager. he leaves a
good friend behind him in Mr.. Mack.
Honestly, 1 hate to see him go, was
the admission the lean leader made.
Hes done enough things to drive me
to distraction, but along with lots tina