The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-02
RUDE WADDELL
TUBERCULOSIS VICTIM

San Antonio. Tex, April 2.-Rube
Waddell, the famous left-handed pit
cher, died here yesterday. He had
been i'll for months with tuberculosis.
George Edward Waddell, one of the
greatest of pitchers, IA noted nearly
as much for his eccentricities as for
his ability as a ball player. In the II
years he spent in professional base
ball he held positions with twelve
teams and including return engage
ments" had II jobs. His longest term
Of service was with the Philadelphia
Americans, where, under the watchful
eye Of Connie Mack, he pitched win
ming ball for half a dozen seasons.
WaddeI's inability to keep in con-
dition discouraged most other man
ayers, and indirectly was responsible
for his contracting tuberculosis,
which caused his death. There was
no better pitcher than he when he
was in form, but he, as we'll as man
his powerlessness to resist tempta-
ton. AS a result of his weakness, the
largest salary he ever received was
5000 q year. That he got from the
Athletics-with the, stipulation, it is
said, that he must keep in condition.
Waddell shared with Robert Glade
the strikeout record of the American
league. On July, 1908, while pitching
for st. Louis Americans, to which
team he had just been released by
Mack, he famed sixteen Of the Ath-
letics, his former team mates. .
Waddell was born in Butler. Pa,
Oct. 10, 1876. When twenty years of
age, or in 1896, he pitched his first
professional ball with the Oil City,
Pa, team, Inc the next veal after a
brief are with the Volant college,
/T1a \ ri~N H. AHa%4xnI Slsr l~o ~,,~ -
baseball as a member. Of the Louis.
Vile National league team. The pace,
in such fast company was a. bit too
fast for him, however, and after a,
few weeks engagement with Detroit
he returned to his native state and
Joined the Homestead team. .
In 1899 {. scout for the Columbus
team recommended him and he was
drafted by that organization. Next
club, but when the Louisville players
were transferred to Pittsburgh he
went along. The American league
war, signal for a general period of
players jumping" gave WaddelI the
opportunity for another change, and
he Joined the Milwaukee club in 1900.
Waddell Joined the Chicago Nation
ais in 1901 and pitched a few great
games for the team under Jack
Doyle. In 1902 he jumped the Chi
cago club to the Los Angeles out
laws" but again returned to organic
ed baseball, joining the Athletics.
From 1902 to 1908 he was a star OF
Mack's troups, and then, showing in
dications of a return to his old hab-
its, and then, showing indications Of
a return to his old habits, Waddell
was sold to the st. Louis Americans.
A flash of his famous skill helped
the Browns in the great battle they
made for the American league PEN
nant in 1908, but at the end of the
next a he was released to New
ark.
The Minneapolis club bought wad-
dell in 1910 and he was two years
with that club. Illness began to get
the better Of him and last spring he
was added to the roster Of the Min
neapolis Northern league club.
Last fall M. e. Cantillon of the Min
neapolis club sent Waddell to Texas
in an effort to prolong his life. Wad-
dell at the time considered his days
as numbered and told friends that he
was soon to die.