The Washington herald., 1908-02-10
NO USE FOR WADDELL
CantilIOn Refuses to Make a
Trade for SOuthpaw.
ASKED FOR HUGHES OR SMITH
while His Eccentric Habits Caused
Connie Mack No End of Worry,
Card on the DIamOnd-Has Seen
His Best Days in Game.

The sale of Rube Waddell. the eccentric
southpaw to St Louis last week, was
made only after Connie Mack, of the
Athletics. had failed to put through a
deal with Joe CantiIop, in which WaddeA
was TO come to Washington in exchange
for a member of the Nationals pitching
staff.
Not until near the close Of last season
did Manager Mack finally decide that
| "Rube" must go. He did so with great
reluctance but once the decision was
made Connie set about the task of dis
posing Of the most-talked-of player OF his
generation.
If there was any lingering doubt about
keeping or letting the big twlrler go, II
was settled on'the last day of the season
of 1907, when the Athletics were at Ma
tional Park.
Manager Mack tried out in the first
game Of the double-header young
pitcher from New Orleans. who did grand
work for three innings. In the fourth
the youngster lost control and hlled the
bases with passes.
Then "Rube'~ was called on. lie pitched
just one ball It was hit, and dropped
back Of second base Neither Eddie Col
Inns. who was playing shortstop, nor Old
ring, who was playing center field, could
quite get up to the ball Waddell watched
the ball fall and then coolly walked OF
the pitchers rubber II was a case Of
quit. which even called forth Kisses from
the bleacherites who were roofing for
Detroit to land the championship.
That ended "Rube'' forever as a member
of the Athletics. Manager Mack, before
leaving Washington. tried to trade him
for either Pitcher Smith or Tom Hughes
but Manager Cantillon declined 20 make
the trade. Other managers also declined
to part with good players for such an
uncertain individual as WaddeIl
King of SOuthpaws.
The release of Waddeu marks the be-
ginning Of the end Of the career Of the
greatest left-handed pitcher that ever
stepped into the box When Waddeu in
his prime was right be was invincible.
Although "Rube" had mo head" he was
a great pitcher He didn't need brains
because he was such great pitching ma
chine that the best batsmen In the coun-
try were helpless before him, no matter
where he pitched the ball All batsmen
looked alike to him. and he did not have
TO study their weaknesses.
AS a drawing card "Rube" was in a
class by himself. He was the hest-adver-
tised ball player that ever wore a uni
form. The $4,000 Clarksons and Kelleys
and LajOies never had the magnetism of
WaddeH with the fans, especially in
the cities on the circuit. Any time that
'Rube' was booked 10 pitch it meant
an increase Of at least 1000 IN attend
ance. For this reason Manager Mack
could afford 10 overlook "a lot of "Rube's"
faults, for it meant money in the treas
uTy of the Athletics.
Waddels popularity with the crowds
was brought about by his clownish actions
on the field in connection with his ability
70 pitch. on the field "Rube" was al
ways doing something 10 keep his name
before the public He would carry red
hot stove out of a house 20 save a family
from being burned 20 death: throw fiat
irons at his fatheT-in-law; referee a prize
fight take part in a football game or jump
in and help out In any sort OF emergency
to get his name into print during the of
season. Tending bar has always been one
OF "Rube's" specialties. but as an actor
he proved "a failure. All these features
We're stock In trade 10 "Rube's" drawing
powers on the ball field. II will be a long
time before baseball gets another "Rube"
Waddell.
But, with all his faults, "Rube" had
many good traits. He was a generous
fellow when he had money-that is why
he was always broke" Mack could
handle him by assisting "Rube" daily in
his financial troubles with ~ OF an
TX" and when on his good behavior
Waddell would work as hard and as
often as he was asked. He would throw
his arm out for Connie" whom he
looked upon as a sort OF guardian.
But Waddell spoiled a lot of his good
traits by deserting the club just when he
was most needed. When 'Rube" took a
notion to go fishing nothing would stop
him.
Fished In st. Louis Cellars.
During the season of 1904, when "Rube"
had his wife with him on a trip through
the West, shortly after being married.
the club arrived in St Louis about 10
O'Clock in the morning, and in ten min
utes 'RUbe" had disappeared. 1t was
soon after the time of the great food,
which almost wiped out East St Louis,
and, after being absent from his wife
and the hotel for thirty-six hours, "Rube"
turned I'D with a string Of catfish He