Evening star., 1915-01-31
RUDOLPH HAD HARD TIME
WINNING FAME AS PITCHER
Clever Twirler, Once Discarded by Giants,
Served Long in Bushes Before Be-
coming Star of the Braves.

defeating Providence In six innings
10 to 3. Carrigan became Rudolph's 6
regular catcher. but that may not have
rigan caught two-thirds Of the sea-
sons games. In 1908 he rejoined the
Red Sox. and is still with them.
For i've years Rudolph was with the
move was made by any major league
club to either draft him or purchase
his services. although he had gained
the reputation Of being the best pitcher
in the Eastern League. His small size
and probably the .thinness Of his hair
repeiled prospective purchasers. At
any rate, 1t was not until the fall Of
1910 that he was given a lift. The New
York National League club then draft
ed him. and after the close Of the East
ern League season Manager McGraw
gave him a trial in championship
games.
Rudolph first pitched one inning in a
George Wiltse and Otis Crandall put
high and dry before Dick was called
upon TO make show in the ninth:
Two hits and one run were made Off
II to 8. The next day. also at Boston.
Rudolph followed Louis Drucke on the
rubber after the seventh, and pitched
two innings, giving the Bostons four
hits and two runs. The Giants won
the game, IL to 4.
RudolphS Real Debut.
However. Dick made his real debut
October 10. when he pitched a full game
against the Phillies at New York 1t
vas not at all propitious to the ambt-
tious youngster. He was beaten by the
one.sided score of to 3. the Phillies
getting Is hits Off him, including five
doubles and triple. a total Of 22
bases. Sherwood Magee, who Will sup
port Rudolph this. year at Boston,
s for iet donee sie and 1os the the ony tnpe
In this disastrous game younsster
named Harry Gowdy played a few In
nings at first base. subbing for Fred
Merkle. His services had been pur-
was his fifth appearance in a Giant
uniform. He began with New York
september IS. playing the entire game
at first base. Then he was twice used
once for Devore. after which he sub
bed q few innings at first base. In the
game Rudolph pitched. Hank was one
time at bat, made a hit and scored a
run. Last fall he divided with Ru-
dolph and James the hero honors Of
the world series.
Gowdy went from New York to Bcs-
ton In July of 1911. and played his first
base. In 1sis he developed into q fair
make him more proficient. he was, In
1918, sent to Buffalo for the entire In
ternational League season. He re-
turned to Boston in September. 1913.
Catcher Raridens desertion to the
Federal League last year gave Hank a
glorious opportunity to display his
ability and become one of the best
known players In the country.
discarded by Giants.
IN p,,H~ :, y n q
Giants for spring practice. However.
staff that he could find no room for
the aspiring youngster. who was used
In only one game. April % he appear
at New York, won by Boston, 3 to 8.
Leon Ames started on the rubber. but
gave way to Drucke after three in
nings. and Drucke made way for Ru-
dolph after four innings. Dick, in two
innings. held the Bostons. his future
teammates. to two hits and no runs.
This was the last work done by Ru-
doiph for the Giants. who no doubt
their pitching staff just now.
1t was back to the minors for Dick
and back he went to Toronto. He was
accompanied to Canada by jeff Tes-
reau. another superhuous pitcher on the
from Shreveport. At Toronto they
found Billy Keeler playing right field.
his first work in the minor league since
1898, when he played third base for
the Binghanatons.
Sorely disappointed by being baked in
his aspirations, Rudolph spent two more
years with the Canadian team. VOW
ing to give up the game after the close
of the season Of 1913. In that year
George Stallings took charge of the
Boston Braves, and. needing a pitcher,
offered the Toronto club Pitcher Bus
ter Brown and $4,000 for Rudolph. The
deal was contaminated, and Dick
pitched for Boston for the first time
May L., relieving Lucian Gervais in the
middle of the fourth inning and pulling
the game out Of the fre. Four times
more he was used as relief pitcher.
and it was not until Decoration day
that he was allowed to begin a game.
However, he was taken off the rubber
in the eighth inning and Bill James
substituted. Boston won the game. to
6. His first full game for Boston was
pitched June at Chicago, when his
team was shut out. to 0. In spite
of this severe beating. Rudolph took
his regular turn on the rubber, and held
his own with his fellow pitchers, finally
surprising all Of them.