The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
Rube WaddeIl Introduces Humorous Element Into Game While With Louisville In 1897

Copyright 1923. in United States and Great Britain, Cuba, Japan and south Alliance. All rights reserved)
 The Bug Enters BasebalI--At 2 A. M.
 By HANS WAGNER
 The first big laugh l remember having after I joined the Louisville club and was established as big 1eaguer was over Rube Waddell. He came in, you know along about the time I did I was surprised the other day to find that most fans and lot of players did not know that Waddell did his first good work with Louis-' vile. I was green, awkward kld, unused to big league ways and espe- cially to the fine hotels. I kept my mouth shut, though, and went right along about my business. The one thing that saved me from a lot of extra joshing I suppose, was because I could always slam the balls For instance, I joined the club in the mid de of the season of 1897 and hit .S44 my very first year.
 We were on an eastern trip when Waddell joined us at Washington. He was the first real bug, as we now call them, to get lot of publicity over his freak stunts. Up to that time the writers took baseball very seriously and wrote about 1t just like the financial experts talk about the stock market
 I notice thcre has been lot of discussion lately as to what started the idea that left handed pitchers are bugs. l don't pretent to speak with authority, but am sure that the Idea started with Waddell. He was cer- tainiy entitled to the honor, If it be one, of putting tho left-handers ins that rating. I know I had never heard of left-handers being sort of cuckoo until Waddel1 came along and was heard about eyer afterward.
 waddell arrived at the hotel about o'clock in the morning. We were all in bed since 10 o'clock.
 I'm the new star left-hander," waddell told the clerk, and I want to report to aMnager Clark"
 Really" protested the clerk. 1T don't think you had better awaken MT. Clark. He went to bed early and doesn't want to be disturbed" /
 Makes no difference" insisted Waddell, T was instructed to report to him and unless I do he won't know what great pitcher he's got"
 I'm afraid he wouldn't welcome you.> My orders are not to awaken him. Why, l can fix you up with a nice room and you can call on him the first thing in the morning" Clerk Takes No Chances.
 "Got to see him now" insisted the Rube. Cant wait.'
 "All right, his room is number 312. I won't wake him. You can do it., if you want to risk It."
 So Waddell bounded up the stairs and in a minute was knocking on Clarkes door. Fred finally woke up and wanted to know what darn fool was bothering him.
 "It's me, Rube waddell, your new pitcher" the southpaw shouted through the keyhole.
 .'oh. we'll tell the clerk to give you. room and .Ill see you first thing in the morning."
 ! 'Not on your life" came the answer through the keyhole. Must gee you now or I'll take the first train out of this mans town"
 Clarke knew that Rube was good pftcher-didn't want to lose him. He got up, opened the door and listened to Waddell for half hour Rube told him what a great pitcher he was and how he was going to win the pennant for Louisville. Fred began to think he'd have to sit up all night. He was getting nervous. but WaddeH would not go. Jf
 sTil tell you what you do," Clarke fifinalIy suggested. T know the other fellows on the team will be disap- < pointed if they don't meet you to- night. So. you go around and wake Nthem all up and introduce youself." i" i Waddell thought that great idea. He went away and let Clarke get to 2 sleep again. Fred got in bed chuckling over what would happen to the other players
 Two hours later-it was 4 o'clock by that time--Clarke was aroused again by another loud knocking on h E -s h
 It's Rube Waddell. your new pitcher, capn."
 Well, you either get away from there and go to bed-either that or so back where you came from I don't care how good a pitcher you are I've got to have some; sleep.'' Why Room 12s Didn'f Wake.
 Yes, Mir. Clarke, but Pm afraid something has happened. I've met all the boys except the one in room 12S, and l can't wake him up. I thought maybe something was. wrong and yen'd like to know it." s Clarke got up again and called up the clerk to find who was stopping in room 12S.
 It was Dummy Hoy, the deaf-mut oBtfielder.
 I was very young and very green then. I didn't say much about it but l used to laugh every time I looked at Waddell. I never could forget that night when he walked us all up. Dummy Hoy, a great outfielder, by the way. also enjoyed 1t.
 You may wonder how they walked him up when it was necessary to catch a train. He could hear a bell all right but not knock on the door. He used to tell us that the vibration would wake him. It used to be favorite joke of ours to have the bell boys page MT. Hoy when We got into a strange city. After finding him they would tell him he was wanted on the telephone. The blank look.