Evening star., 1930-12-15
.RUEL, NAT CATCHER,
is SOLD TO RED SOX
Star With Griffmen Eight
Seasons Goes to Boston
Club Outright.

T EROLD D. RUEL, once an
r. iron man among American
i i League catchers, no longer
is a member of the Wash
ington base ball club.
Muddy, ever popular here dur
ing his eight-season term, this
morning was sold to the Boston
Red Sox, the club the Nationals
got him from after the season of
1922. According to Clark Griffith,
Washington president, the trans
fer Of Ruel to the Red Sox is out
right and on a cash basis, but no
price is announced.
Despite his slight stature. Ruel. who
VIII be 35 years old February 20. next.
mas been stalwart among big league
Ss SSaCcners through dozen seasons He
became f1rSt-string receiver with the
Yankees In 1919 and since has been
recognized as one Of the best catchers
In the business
For eight consecutive seasons Muddy
worked In more than 100 games a sea-
son, q record few other big league re-
celverS can show. He started this string
with the Red Sox in 1921 and carried
through 1928 with the Nationals. His
pig year was 1924 when he was behind
the bat IN 149 games and his work in
that season had much to do with get
ling washington its first American
League championship.
Starts World Series Rally.
During his big league career Muddv
has batted for a grand average of .282.
His best season at bat was in 1928 when
he hit for .316, although in two other
seasons he clubbed his way into the
500 class. He got only two hits for the
Nationals In the world series of 1924.
but both were made in the seventh
game and one in the twelfth inning of
that fray started the rally that defeated
the Giants.
Ruel first gained base ball fame as a
catcher with the Wabedahs, q sandlot
team OF his home town, st. Louis, back
In 1918. Under the direction of the
late John B. Sheridan, then q proni-
nent Mound City base bali enthusiast.
Ruel, although but 19 years. old, be-.
came catcher Of class and was signed
by the Browns. They farmed him to
Memphis Of the Southern Association
in 1916 from which club the YANKEES
bought him In 1917.
Muddy was in the Army the following
year, but In 1919 and 1920 he was back
with the New York club. Then with
Pratt, Wick and Thormahlen he went
to the Red Sox in exchange for Hoyt.
Schang, McNally and Harper. For two
seasons he was with the Boston club
and came to the Nationals with Allan
Russell, pitcher, after the 1922 CAM
paign In exchange for Val Picinich,
catcher, and Howard Shanks, infielder-
outhelder.
Great johnson Catcher.
During his first six years with the
Nationals, Ruel was their first-strtn0
catcher and with Gabby Street, now
manager Of the st. Louis Cardinals, and
Eddie A1nsmith, became one Of the great
receivers OF Walter. Johnson's pitching.
In 1929, Muddy relinQuished the first
string catching job with Washington to
Benny Tate, now with the White Sox.
and last season he was rated secondary
to Roy Spencer.
Long rated one Of the brainiest men
behind the bat In the big leagues, Ruel
mas been regarded good managerial
tlinoer and Tor some time 1t was thought
ne would succeed Bill Heinie Wagner
as manager OF the Red Sox. However,
that position has gone to Shane Collins,
but Ruel undoubtedly should prove val
liable TO his new club as coach and
assistant to the pilot as well as In q
playing capacity.