South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-27
FUCKER ONE Of
BEST HURLERS
Pitcher Always Stood Near
Top Although Team was
Mediocre Bunch.
BY jack VeiOck .
international News service:

international News service
NEW YORK. Dec. 27.-Old Nap
Fuckers pitching days are over.
TIE veteran forkhander of the
Brooklyn Dodgers was recently slip
ped his unconditional release by
Charles Holiday Ebbets OF Flatbush.
and from now on Rucker will not
have 10 worry if he has kink i'm
the one-time effective salary soup
bone.
When Rucker was called in from
the field TO take Cheney's place on
the hurting top during the fourth
game Of the worlds series against
the Red Sox last fall. his pet ambi
ton was realized. He had always
hoped to serve up the foolers TO the
batters i'm the gold and purple event
of the national pastime, and after
the game he ANNOUNCED TO assembl
scribes that he was through.
Shortly after the big series ended
Ebbets asked for waivers on the
veteran. and the granting of waiv-
ers signified that major league club
owners believe Rucker has seen his
best days.
But Nap will not sever his connec-
tions with the grand old game al
together. for he has been engaged
to scout for the Robins. and his du-
ties as a hunter in the fields Of
solid ivory will find him wandering
about in the Southern league and
the American association.
Rucker came to Brooklyn from
the Augusta. (Ga.) club in 1907, 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
southpaw who ever curved ball
and "Jawn" is supposed TO know
whereof he speaks.
During the years when Rucker
was in his heydey as a pitcher. the
Dodgers, unfortunately for him.
were more or less a team of insists
every season. Rucker always stood
out as a star surrounded by a team
of mediocre players. and although
ne pitched wonderful ball, his
pitching was in vain i'm so far as
his pet ambition went. He lived in
the hope of taking part in a world
/ series. and when that hope was
gratifed he was ready TO hang up
his glove and his spikes and call it
quits.
The fact that the Red SoX found
/ Fuckers aging arm still capable Of
uncanny stunts was a great pleasure
TO him, and it proved that at least
trace of the erstwhile cunning was
~Iu there.
T1 national game is losing one OF
! the best liked players who ever
drew down n fat salary in the major
/ leagues. Fuckers team mates. not
10 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
I friends wherever he went
} Perhaps the most pleasing mem
DRY that will linger with Rucker is
\ that Of the great ovation he receiv-
ed when Uncle Wilbert Robinson
I called him into the box against the
| Carrigans The crowd at Ebbets
| field. knowing Of Fuckers ambition
/ broke forth in a wild cheer that
must have more than paid him for
the years Of waiting he had done
for that one moment.
! Southpaws come and 20 every sea
son. SOuthpaw pitchers as "a rule
are erratic. and only small per
| cent of them ever reach the state
Of effectiveness in long service that
( Rucker reachel.
In Difference to the veteran, it is
only fair TO say that in his passing
the southpawing fraternity has lost
its king.