Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-05

. ever SAW IN action '"
The Athletic leader hcsitatod and
fthen rcpiisd; .,,
over my baseball days. | have tried to
Z. settle in my own mind which twirlcr
was greatest Of them all Hut have
e never been able to reach any definite
y conclusion. There have been different
periods in baseball since 1854. during
\ which one pitcher or another dominated
the situation.
s, "Radbourne was tho particular star
of his own time: Rusie' was the out
sstandins genius of his day. Then came
johnson and Grover Alexander in
other cras.
1T is quite inconsistent for any man
:. than Mathcwson: that Husc was
!. greater than Johnson; tina, Young was
= was the greatest of them all Each
: worked in the different ages Of base
= ball; each under different conditions.
Rubc Wnddeil tho Wonder.
Each had different, ball clubs be-
hind him, and faced different opposi-
: Mathewson might have Jared with a
,ailcnder nor how we'll Johnson might
s vsfy donT win pacher Ra% suH
things to contend with. and so there
is no hasi. ,or comparison.
But" added Mack after some de-
liberation. III go so far as to say
that Il Ruhe Waddci had been pos
s Ionn of the brains Of Mathewson
world would rank him rs the super
pitcher of all time. I have never seen
the natural ability OF Waddcll. lie had
speed that ecIipsed anything; left
handler has over shown: curves that
were hcwildcring. and control that was
uncanny.
The first real instance of Waddelrs
control WAS shown during his early
days with the Athletics. when we were
playing an exhibition game.
Only Two Formed Team.
Walden had been joshcd by the
lha, he was really a great pitcher. So
when it came our turn 10 take tho
field the next inning. WaIdcr insisted
that the entire, nticld and outfield re-
main on the bench. We acuuiesccd.
Ss; ar M.. The catcher or the fsia
three batsmcn In a row. and, II Is my
ree9llection that he threw only about
ea 'S Wadde rsessfsd Se rsK
IN exhibition games. and frequently
be, begged M, me to let him try It in reFu,-
"Waddc!i was difficult man to
handle because of his eccentricities,
hut he certainly was not the most per-
upon TO solve. lIumorine and pcttin-
Wadde!l and catering to his whims
always was enough 10 test anyoncs
patience. hut those who attempted 1t
usually were rewarded with Waddells
best efforts
"Touchcd" Mack Every Day.
The end of each season found most
~ Wadde!rs salary due him. When
he mrs, Joined my club he was in the
habit OF drawing weeks in advance
OF regular nay day. talked to him
ore On NE, me to,, ori %, inns pracrrfe, nue.
The lesson seemed 20 80 home 10 RUDE
and he promised thereafter that he
wouldn't spend his money before he got
II. Through the balance OF his days
with the athletics he kent that pledge.
Ills method Of procedure was to
money. lie never appeared al. tho club
wouldn'; collect The balance due him
until the next day, I knew he would
was to give him what he asked for,
until the end Of the season.
But waddHl occasionaily would
provided couldn't get him 10 wait
rntN tomorrow. If could put him off
apparen, tina, waddell wanted the
do. there WAS JUS, one thing 10 he
done and that was to give him all
he asked for. othSrwisc there would
have been strange happenings.
Nearly Lost {" Athletics.
''Ruhe tested my patience very
schsduIed work in an Important game.
The next morning he came into my
olice for the usual spending none
him. ala II. without rnincing words.
suddenly looked AZ Wadd"irs face
and saw an expression ,herG which
trld me quickly chat unless J did some
thing quickly Waddcll was lost 10 my
ball club. So ! Jumped over al Huhc,
s!npped him on tho back. and eH-
Wei, Rube old hoy; guess
fooled YOU that time, en-?
'WaddcN looked At me In puzzled
sort o. way and said
said 70 ne just now. Connie? Were
q :" WHY. Eubc' ] replied. did YOU
think ] was doing anything else but
= ~ had saved the situation, and had
4 WadGe:i Tor my team Rube began
~ 10 laugh, uproarously and for years
- the biggest Joke that had even been
- perpetrated on him.
- Missed Game TO Fish.
= "Waddeu was the biggest hearted
thlete ever knew and the most boy,
e ish. He was passionately found OF
= fishing. Wh"n he first came TO me he
&. went on fshing trips whenevc7 the
s. desire came to him, without regard
Z. from the lineup. took him aside one
day after nc had failed to show w
81 ured on pitching MIN. aud told him
u what great blow 1t had hecn 10 me
- through there tears in the eyes
y OF Waddel! ana he said
4. why Connie. didn't know that IN!
being away , w9aid h bnt F2t SO mHSt
- chances like that. like TO go fishing
q Connie but III promise YOU now thai
z any time you want me to pitch "a BIZ
ts game I'll stay around and not go FISH,
3. ing. But. Connie. If ! win that game
- and you don, want me 10 work for :
y couple OF days and | want 10 go nsh
~ ing, I can 90. can't J."
y. ''Ccrtainly.' ] answered
Y: 'If wadaell had been possessed Q
~ the mentality Of some OF the o;hel
star pitchers. and his marvellous lcf
~ arm had been guided by the working
4. OF a crafty brain. his name would h.
"A. found today on that page OF basebaI
~ history which would describe tn,
81. greatest pitcher OF all time Copy
- right 1919, King Features Syndica e
Inc.