The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-01
BY HARRY GRAYSON
NEA Sports Editor


spun Georgian with a Cracker
drawl. Brooklyn's favorite pitcher
to this day was a good-natured,
easy going guy.
When young George Rucker
southpawed on the sandlots OF
Alphharetta, Ga, an ice cream ped
dler sold a CONNECTION called Ma
poleon. Rucker went for Napoleons
a mile a minute. When the other
players would see the peddler,
they'd shout: There's your Napo-
leon. Rucker." Thus the famous
nickname. Brooklyn fans cut it to
MAP, and today the great left
handler signs his name, Nap Rucker.
Napoleon Rucker was as effective
on the sandlots of Alpharetta, Ca,
that he attracted the attention OF
the Atlanta Club. He was not yet 20
when he chucked for Atlanta IN
1904.
Atlanta sent Rucker to Augusta
in 1905-O6. The Augusta Club OF
'O5 included the immortal Tyrus
Raymond Cobb, Eddie Cicotte OF
unhappy Black SoX memory and
the original Ducky Holmes, who
went on to be quite pitcher. Yet
it finished last in the South At
lantic League.
McGRAW OFFERED $4,000
The Athletics had first call on the
Augusta Club in 1906, when Rucker
won 81 and lost 9. But Connie
Mack already had remarkable LETT
handlers in Rube Waddell and Eddie
Plank, 80 took the Highlander,
Holmes. Brooklyn got Rucker for
$500.
In 1908, when Charles H. Eb-
bets needed money, John McGraW
and the Giants offered $4,000 Tor
Rucker. -.
You can stop right there"
said Owner Ebbets. Anybody but
Rucker." That's how quickly Nap,
the laughing kid, established him
self in the hearts Of the incredible
Flatbush filberts. They liked him
because he was an outstanding
pitcher who never stopped trying
with a string of poor clubs. He did
not have a good one until he was
finished in 1916.
The fact that he was plain ana
thema to the despised Giants didn't
hurt him with the constituents,
either.
Rucker broke in with the Dodgers
in 1907 by losing two tough games
on the road. When the club reach
ed old Washington Park for the
first home stand, Rucker wanted to
quit, didn't believe he could win IN
the National League.
Charley Ebbets had baseball
writer's, who already had grown
fond of Rucker, talk him into're-
manning. Tile bosted Maps salary
$500, which gave him $1,000 Tor
his first season. He never drew
more than $500.
THUMBLESS SLOW STUFF
Until 1913, the first year OF Eb-
bets Field, Rucker was a fast ball
pitcher with a cracking curve,
When Pat Raglan, the No. 2 man,
came up with sore arm, Fucker
volunteered to pitch out of turn.
Bill Dahlen. then manager, ap-
peared to be in bad way when
Rucker speared a batted ball with
his pitching thumb. The always
willing Rucker said he believed
he could pitch without using the
thum. Thus was developed one
of the widest curves and the
slowest ball in the history of the
majors.
Players, umpires and writers
used to say that Rucker was slow,
slower and sloWest.
When his thumb healed and
Rucker commenced to pour the
ball through again, there devel-
oped a soreness In his shoulder.
He had employed different mus.
cles in pulling the string, had arm
trouble from then on.
The Brooklyn Club never had
the slightest trouble with Rucker.
Many old-timers will tell yct
that Rucker and Christy Mathew
son, stickout pitchers, were the
finest men they met In baseball.
FINISHED IN WORLD SERIES
Rucker stood feet II, weighed
100. In 10 years with the Brooks.
he lost one more game than he
won, 1874 to 1873. He won "a games
and lost 18 in 1911. His earned
run average was low in eight cam
paigns. He pitched no-hit. no-run
game against the Braves, September
5, 1908; struck out 16 Cardinals,
July "a, 1909.
He recommended Dazzy Vance,
who took his place in the affec-
tions of the Brooklyn mob.
Rucker grows cotton in Georgia
and the last time I heard Of him