The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-06
AGERs AGAIN PASS
UP CHANCE TO
GET WADDELl
&. Louis Says All Clubs in the
League Have Done Likewise,
So Great Star Must Pass
To Minor Leagues.
History Will Remember Him as the
Greatest Pitching Machine the
Game Has Ever Known.
ax PAUL \. eRuske.

q Had anybody made the prediction
two or three seasons ago mat the
Detroit club would refuse an oppor-
tunity TO secure for the insignificant
sum of 81 500 the man who, III pure
natural ability must be considered as
1.-THE greatest pitcher OF all uhe' en@
y prophet would have been consigned 10
a class considerably below the l. >.
\ weather bureau and Anna Eva ray.
Yet that IL what has happened not
once. but twice. in the past three
years
The pitcher Is. of course. the great
George Edward Waddell. Detroit
wouldn't think of taking him at
(, time when, though still a winner, Con-
ME Mack eventually turned Waddeh
K % the Browns. II has happened again
only a few days ago.
The Detroit management wouldnt
take Waddell for $500. the waiver
price: furthermore. IL wouldn't accept
him as q gift. And IL is doubtful II
there is any other American league
!, club that is willing 10 stand IN the
way of this, the present attempt OF
\ the management OF the Browns, 10
railroad Waddell into the minor
/ Ieagues which have for a season long
been yawning for him.
All Clubs Waive.
st. Louis sends out the report that
all American league clubs have waiv-
ed claim. III this is so. II undoubtedly
marks the Waddell passing. And there
are many who will rejoice over the
fact. Though. in 1909, the great Reu-
ben showed that he could keep up his
former clip for only part OF game.
az a rule he was, nevertheless.
Troublesome man for any club TO face
- particularly an aggregation compris-
ing a considerable number OF left
hand hittcrs. as was the case last year
for Boston. Detroit Chicago and Wash
ington At that, the RUDE did not do
no badly. winning ii games and los
ing IA. which was quite some better
than the figures attained BY his club
III it's grand average for the season.
though only parody OF what he once
could do.
There was never n pitcher like Wad-
dell at his best. X Is doubtful II there
VIII be- another in the memory OF the
present generation.
Well over six feet in height. big
boned and never carrying apparently
IN ounce of supcrfuous flesh. Waddell
was, and even now remains. a genuine
7 Apollo from the physical point of view.
He was a man who would have scored
- ximilar success on the arena OF any
other field of athletic competition. He
played football little and. though he
always regarded IL as joke. he was
simply wonder Nobody who ever
saw him fight when his usual good
nature gave way To a storm of pas
sion. Is likely TO forget the sight. To
any form Of athletic competition he
brought that superb physical equip
ment and success was an assured GER
taiiity.
A Physical Marvel.
When at the zenith OF his pitching
ability. Waddcll was simply unhitable.
He was ole Of the few left-handers
who were equally rs effective against
the batsInen whether they addressed
his offerings from the right or the left
side OF the plate. His drop-curve has
never been equalled and the speed
which went with IL will remain a base
hall classic as long as baseball is play
cd.
but. with all his tremendous
strength aad physical ability. Waddell
lacked balance to such a degree that
now he sees staring HIM In the face a
disgrace which should not have come
Ito him for many years. Waddelrs
ten-thousanddol,ar arm was directed
by 10-ceut head. Even his great con.
Sfitution lighting as IL has fought for
more than decade against the raw
ages of insane destination. has found
the task too much. A man OF average
equipment would have lasted only a
few days or one season az the best.
But the baseball world will be
long tiine forgetting Rube Walden.