Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-18

scattering with Eddie Plank prob
ably in the lead.
Rucker Most Accurate.
Jack Ryder, of The Cincinnati En-
quirer, favored the Georgian as the
most accurate left handler in base
ball"
He has the most perfect control
ever displayed by a left handler" says
Jack. 'and his judgment also is uni
formly accurate. What a team he
and Walter johnson would make,
They would be practically invinci-
BILE pair"
Yes-something like that has oc-
CURED to most of us, at one time or
another.
Better Than Plank or Gregg.
Bill Peet, of The Washington Her
aid. while seeing much more of tie
proves of the wonderful Eddie Plank
and Nean Gregg, Of the American
League, still pins his choice on Ruck
er, whom he has seen in action only
a few times.
He is head and shoulders above
the rest of Them says Bill Il be
lieve that in couple of years Joe
Boehling, of the Senators, will be
classed with Rucker. but right now
the Brooklyn slabman is in a class
all by himself"
All He Lacks Is Team.
The game knows no more willing
or cheerful worker" said e. F..
Younger, of The Chicago Record Her
aid. Had he a first-class team be-
hind him, | doubt 10 half his de
feats' would be charged against him.
He has speed, control and experience,
and is at his very best in a pinch.
Were he a member of the Phila-
delphia Athletics, or even Of the Gil
ants, | think he would be practically
invincible."
Plank H Only Rival
The same opinion is sharedby Paul
H. shannon, who says that with a
really good bail club Rucker would
speedily stand alone in his ability to
deliver consistent victories
"Rucker is cool competent work
man." says Shannon, with splendid
curves and fine control without
either league. ] consider Eddie Plank
his only rival, and Eddie's advancing
years keep him out of a peerage with
the grand Georgian"
Palm for Consistent Work.
Thomas S Rice, of The Brooklyn
Eagle. SAYS that Fuckers work. year
in and year out, should justify his
choice as the greatest of southpaws
He has GOODNESS, skill, control
curves. the knowledge Of batsmens
Weaknesses. and all the qualifications
that would entitle him to selection as
the games greatest left handler"
HE Has Everything"
James Jerpe. of The Pittsburg Ca
zette- Times, says that Rucler is his
choice because he has everything"
Ia,
the most pulling and eXasperating
change Of pace of any pitcher in the
land. and he knows how to use it,
He mixes up that tantalizing slow
bali with a fast one that is simply
dazzling, and when he switches TO a
curve. 1T is amazing to see It. Nap
Rucker viii show an opposing ball
team more stuff oftener than any
other pitcher living
Hand It to Nap.
So they all hand it to our old
friend Nap, who used to pitch (bare
footed for the Marietta town team
in it's annual tussles with Acworth
and Gainesville and other town teams
just north of Atlanta.
Atlanta, by the way, had two
chances to land Rucker back in the
DAYS of Abner PoweN's regime. But
Abner couldn't see the gawky country
lad who actually asked him, on the
occa sion of one try-out, il he couldn't
take off his shoes,
IF you1l let me. Mr.. Powell I'll
pitch you some baseball" Nap plead
ed But Abner was obdurate, and
Atlantas chance to get the greatest
of all southpaws went gllmmering
when Nap, stumbling about on un-
accustomed spikes, couldn't pitch with
any accuracy, or field his job at all.
And now-wcll, Maps the greatest
Of them all