The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-31

I mean is that I regard New York In
the same light as do Coney Island. 1
| ga to both places to see the sights, Dull
| when I'm through 1 hurry back 20
| Brooklyn. You can get good night
rest in Brooklyn. You meet more real
| human beings in Brooklyn. There are
more homes in Brooklyn. Your life Is
safer in Brooklyn"
You're the first Brooklynite I ever
met who worried about his life Most
OF them don't care"
AT that Brooklyn is the best place
Fair ball. Go all the way round on
II mean that it's better than New
/ York in that respect" explained Ruck-
er. 1.-THE man who dies in Brooklyn has
the consolation of knowing that there Is
some place to plant him"
A Comparison.
You've got me in a hole now an
| right. No denying Brooklyn leads the
| ten bstone league. How do you ngure
out that your life is safer IN BrookIyh.
Look at the way the motor cars go
| shooting around New York." shouted
Nap. Little wonder the Giants have all
the best base runners. The players get
| a lot of practice lodging joy riders"
They're not half as dangerous as the
| baby carriages on your side OF the
| bridge You can dodge motor car.
but one of those perambulators will
chase you up three flights of stairs 20
get you
said Rucker.
Where was your arm oornz
"Alpharetta, Ga"
''When?"
''Twenty-seven years ago. My other
arm was born at the same time.
They're twins
The left one has done the most for
you"
am greatly attached to both of them"
What is the working arms nation
ality?'
Part Scotch, part IrisI.''
How is the responsibility divided?''
Scotch from the shoulder to the
elbow and Irish the rest of the way,
laughed Rucker-
How would stranger go about find
ms Alphabetical"
Make 1t AIpharetta.
"Alpharetta,'' corrected Rucker. TITS
OH the map, but he would have to have
good control to locate it,
What's the population"
They had fifteen hundred when / left
last spring. I don't know whether any
get away since that time"
And you're the first citizen?'
Il wouldn't go so far as that" came
with a laugh. THE other ,499 call me
by my first name"
by the way, how did she family
come to hang that first name on you?'
You mean Napoleon"
Yes"
That isn't my right name.''
Then you've been giving the fans a
fl vi tip?"
so far as my first name rs concerned
but it isn't my fault. You're the first
one to ask me about it, Someone called
me Napoleon when began playing ball
and the name stuck 1 liked it so well
right ha
What name did you start with?'
George. Nap is good deal nicer
Don't you think so?"
It's a bigger mouthful, but we've
had lot of great Georges
Il know it, but Napoleon gives you
better chance for a free swing. You
don't have to catch it up Short
baH2"
Met II. Cobb There,
1t seems about 81 years." said Rue
ker- 4 cannot remember the time
when 1 wasn't playing. 1 have been in
the professional game eight years.
took the full village course on the lots
and graduated to the Atlanta team OF
the Southern League in the latter part
of 1904. In 1905 I pitched for Augusta
In the South Atlantic League. 'E'Ty'
Cobb was member of the team"
Was he wrecking the ball at that
timer"
He didn't get started on his destruc-
tive career until the end of the season.
He was only a little chap, and didn't |
have the strength to DO much damage, |
but he took on flesh during the sum-
mer, and what he did to the ball be- |
fore the season closed landed him in |
the big league in a hurry. He can sure |
hit Them
He appears to be in a slump this |
season." |
Yes, he's been hitting in hard luck. |
His average is only 800 or whereabouts |
at the present time
How did you reach Brooklyn"
BY the way of Augusta. 1 lost my
first game in the big league by to |
2 score and worried until 1 was able |
to put over a win. The Brooklyn fans |
stuck to me until 1 made good, and I'll |
pitch for them just as long as they'll |
let me. They're the most loyal bunch |
of rooters on the circuit"
What player in the National League |
gives you the most trouble?''
How to Fool Honus.
Hans Wagner. What that big
Dutchman has done to my stuff is a |
shame. I know he doesn't play any ia
vorites among the pitchers, but il |
seems as if he couldn't wait until I
came along. 1t doesn't matter where
I put it-around his neck, across his
or behind his back-he just
beats it to a pulp
Did you ever fool him?''
"Only once" said Rucker. 'I ducked |
Pittsburg on a trip a few years ago.
That's the only way to fool Hans
Don't go into the box. I have got so
now that I put them right over the
plate for him and then watch him
touch all the bases
How do you spend the off season.
81 manage to keep fairly busy I've
got a cotton plantation that takes up
a lot of my time"
.TE1 L I