El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-02
WADDELL PITCHED
WONDERFUL BALL
Career Was Marred Only By
Weakness; Funeral Is
Held In San Antonio.

San Antonio, Texas, April GEORGE
"Rube" Wadden, who died here Tues
day, was one of the greatest baseball
pitchers in the history of the game.
He spent II years in professional base
ball and held positions on u teams.
His longest term of service was with
the Philadelphia Athletics where, un-
der the Watchful eye of Connie Mack,
he pltched winning ball for nearly a
Waddell came to Texas about four
months ago, already weakened by
tuberculosis but buOyant and hopeful
that ne would soon be back in the
game ne located on a ranch near
BOerne put his strength grew less until
he was finally brought to a sanitarium
here Interment was held here TODAY
WaddelIs father, mother and sister at
tended the services.
His weakness Discouraged Managers.
WadaeIIs inability to keep in condi-
ton discouraged most managers and
was indirectly responsible for his con-
tracing tuberculosis, which caused his
uedIh- mere was no better pitcher
than Waddell when he was in form
but ne as well as managers and club
owners were aware of his pOwerless-
ness to resist temptation As A result
of his weakness the largest salary he
ever received was $4,000 a year That
he got from the Athletics, with the
stipulation, it is said, that he must keen
in condition.
Wadden shared with Robert Glade
the strikeOut record of the American
league. On July 29, 1908, while pitch
yWnom he had been just released by
Mack, he famed Is of the Athletics.
his former team mates.
How He Rose.
Wad0ell was born in Butler, Pa,
october IS, 1876. When 20 years of
age, or in 1896, he pitched his first pro
1eSslonal ball with the Oil City, Pa,
team and the next year, after a brief
career with the VOlant college penn
SyIVania) nine, he entered big league"
DaseDall as member of the Louisville
National league team. The pace in such
Iast company was a little too fast for
MIN, however, and after a few weeks
engagement with Detroit, he returned
70 ms native state and Joined the
homestead team. In 1898 a scout for
the columbus team recommended him
and ne was drafted by that Organiza-
uon. Next year he was attached to the
LOUISVILLE club but when the Louisville
he went along.
Jumped to American League.
Inc american league war, a signal
Tor a general period of PLAYERS "iumD-
ing gave Waddell the opportunity for
another chance and he Joined the Mil
Waukee club in 1900.
Waddell Joined the Chicago Nationals
in 1901, and pitched few great games
Tor the team under Jack Doyle In 1902
ne jumped the Chicago club to the Los
Angeles outlaws" but again returned
to organized ball, joining the Athletics.
From 1902 to 1908 he was a star of
Macks trOup and then, showing indf-
cations Of a return of his old habits.
Waddell was sold to the st. Louis
Americans. A flash of his famous skin
helped the Browns in the great battle
they made for the American league
pennant in 1908 but at the end of the
next season he was released to New
Y ork; The Minneapolis club bought
Waddell in 1910, and he was two yesrs
with that club. Illness began to get
the better of him and last spring he
was added to the roster of the Minnea-
polls Northern league club
Last fall ". z. Cantillon Of the Min
neapolis club sent Waddeu to Texas
IN an effort to prOIonS his life. Wad-
dell at the time considered his davs
as numbered and told his friends that
he was soon to die.