The Washington herald., 1916-12-18
NAP RUCKER'S DAYS
AS PITCHER ARE over
The Old Southpaw Has Been Given a
Position as Scout.

New York, Dec. 1.-THE veteran fork
handler of the Brooklyn Dodgers was rS-
Gently slipped his unconditional release
by Charles Holiday Ebbets Of Flatbush.
and from now on Rucker will not have
TO worry II he has kink in the one-time
effective salary soup bone.
when Rucker was called in from the
Held TO take Cheney's place on the hurl-
ing top during the fourth game of the
worlds series against the Red Cox last
fall. his pet ambition was realized. He
had always hoped to serve I'D the fooIers
to the batters in the gold and purple
event OF the national pastime, and after
the game he announced to assembled
scribes that he was through
Shortly after the big series ended Eb-
bets asked for waivers on the veteran
and the granting of waivers signiiIed that
major league club owners believe Rucker
has seen his best days.
But Nap will not sever his connections
with the grand old game altogether, for
he has been engaged to scout for the
Robins. and his duties as a hunter in
the fields OF solid ivory will find him wan
dering about in the Southern League and
the American Association.
Rucker came to Brooklyn from the Au-
Susta CGa.) club in 1897. and from that
time through the season OF 1912 he was
the king Of portside pill curvers. John
McGraw. of the Giants, has called him
the greatest southpsw who ever curved
ball. and "Jawn'' is supposed to know
whereof he speaks
During the years when Rucker was in
bis heYdey as pitcher. the Dodgers, un-
fortunately for him, were more or less n
team OF misfits every season. Rucker AL
ways stood out as star surrounded py
a team Of mediocre players. and although
he pitched wonderful ball, his pitching
was In vain insofar as his pet ambition
went. He lived in the hope of taking
part IN world series, and when that
nope was gratihed he was ready 10 hang
up his glove and his spikes and call il
quits.
The fact that the Red Sox found Ruck-
ers aging arm still capable Of uncanny
stunts was great pleasure to him, ana
II proved that at least a trace of the
erstwhile cunning was still there.
The national game is losing one of
the best liked players who ever drew
down a fat salary in the major
leagues. Rucker's team mates, not
to forget the players of other teams.
thought the world of him. He was
universally liked. both on and off the
ball field. and he made friends where
ever he went
Perhaps the most pleasing memory
that will linger with Rucker is that
OF the great ovation he received when
Uncle Wilbert Robinson called him
into the box against the Carriea ms.
The crowd at Ebbets Field, knowing
OF truckers ambition. broke forth in
a wild cheer that must have more
than paid him for the years Of wait
ing he had done for that one moment.
Southpaws come and go every sea-
son. Southpaw pitchers as a rule are
erratic. and only a small per cent of
them ever reach the state of effective
ness in long service that Rucker
reached.
In difference to the veteran, II is
only fair TO say that in his passing
the southpawing fraternity has lost
its king.
Some of the baseball scribbIing boys
have boldly informed the public that
club owners would welcome a bali
players strike. but nothing could be
further from the truth. The men
who have their money tied up in base
ball are just emerging from the great
est panic-if 1t can be called a panic
that baseball has ever known. We
mean the recent baseball war.
Last season baseball perked UP to
tome extent. Attendance was better
in all of the larger cities where the
ihehosou " TURN out WIN
ners. and the prospect for 1917 is en-
couraging.
With this in view. why should club
owners welcome another season of
trouble with the players? why should
they be pictured as willing to close
their parks when they have only
stated to recoup the losses they had
to stand in 1914 and 1918? For the
life of us. we fail to see any reason
why any man in business should want
trouble with his employees.
And you can take II off the bat,
Mr.. Fan, that the club owners are not
anxious to breed trouble with any one.