Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-05
RUDE WADDEHL STARTED
LIFE AS DRUM MAJOR
His First Baseball Performance Was
to Fan Nineteen Men in
the Toys of Band
Leader

Epochs in Rube's life: slFsF
Born on a farm.
Ran away from home.
Joined a band of burnt cork barnstorm
ers.
Pitched a game in drum major toys
and struck out nineteen men.
Town went crazy over the big farmer
and he was kidnapped by enthusiastic
fans.
A friend took him to Pntsburg and In
troduced him to Connie Mack.
He has been making baseball history
ever since.
Rube's higheet earthly ambition when
a boy was to be a gaudy drum major
and swing a big brass baton 1t was
not until after q. Edward Naddel real
lied this ambition to certain extent ana
had earned his first money playing ball
that the big farmer boy decided TO snuff
out his youthful aspirations and take up
ball flinging for a living. The way the
big fellow made the balls crack in the
catcher's mitt was caution. lie burned
up the countrs- leagues for miles around
and none of his brother Rubes had the
temerity to face his speedy delivery.
RUDE was still working on his father S
farm, just outside of Butler, Pa, when
quite a young man. That is how he
earned the sooriquet RUDE" and ac-
cording to Henry j. Spuhler who first
discovered Rube's ability, he certainly
looked the part.
Guiding the pillow and handling other
agricultural implements swelled the mus
Giles of the farmer boys arms. to the
size and hardness of pig iron ingots.
With either hand he could throw stone
out of sight No batter could hit ball
he pitched in the games between village
mines.
Efforts were made by the managers of
the larger clubs of side towns to land
the Butler youngster, but domesticated
"Rube" was AFRAID to venture from the
old freside.
But one day a travelling minstrel troupe
struck town. "Rube' witnessed the
street parade. That settled him. he ran
away from home.
Nothing was seen or heard of him I'M
til one morning some weeks later h9
marched into Dubois bedecked in high
fur hat, swinging a drum majors baton
at the head of band of burnt cork barn
stormers. "Rube" and his show arrived
the day on which a game was played be-
tween Punxsutawney and Dubois.
Fans In that section had heard of the
'phenom" down Butler way, but had
never seen him. Spuhler, however, rec
ognized the big drum major, and after
the parade he went after him and offered
"Rube" a $50 note to pitch the game.
'Rube" consented to pitch If Spuhler
would allow him to enter the game in
mis- show clothes. This was agreed to
and "Rube" took his position in the center
Of the diamond logged out in the full
regalia of drum major. to tho wild de-
light of a packed baseball park. Nineteen
Punxsutawneyites struck out and the
other five who stepped to the plate failed
to hit the ball outside the diamond.
That night the minstrels departed drum
majorless, for the leader of the band had
been kidnapped by enthusiastic, hero
worshiping jewellers who were painting
Dubois a bright red with PunXsutawney
money.
After that Spuhler induced his find"
to accompany him to Allegheny, where
the Pittsburgers were practicing. Connis
Mack was catcher and In charge OF the
team One morning he and Pink" law
ley were on the side line trying some new
curves. The .'Rube' was standing near
by. Finally he mustered up enough cour-
age to approach "Pink" and bashfmly ask
permission to "chuck a couple" Without
removing his coat "Rube' commenced
sending them into the elongated back
stops big glove with a resounding whack
that could be heard all over the lot. His
speed was terrific.
whats your name2' asked Mack, TAX
ing-off his mitt. which indicated that he
had seen enough.
'.Rube" was the laconic reply.
IAN right. Rube,' grinned Connie, ga
get your dinner and come back. You may
pitch against Boston this afternoon"
Since that day &, Edward Waddell has
been one Of the stars OF the game on the
big circuits