Rube Waddell
| Birthdate | 10/13/1876 |
| Death Date | 4/1/1914 |
| Debut Year | 1897 |
| Year of Induction | 1946 |
| Teams | Athletics, Browns, Cubs, Pirates |
| Position | Pitcher |
The Major Leagues’ strikeout leader from 1902 through 1907, Rube Waddell was the game’s greatest drawing card at the turn of the century.
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Tales of Waddell's erratic and eccentric behavior overshadowed a Hall of Fame career
Tales of Waddell's erratic and eccentric behavior overshadowed a Hall of Fame career
Rube Waddell is best remembered today by stories of his eccentric behavior. The bonus money he received for his first pro contract was both the cause and the means for a wild drinking binge, of which there were many.
Easily distracted, Waddell had a fascination with fire trucks, puppies, and shiny objects. The 13-year big league veteran sometimes left the playing field when his mind was disrupted. Waddell’s alcoholism only amplified these behaviors.
It’s a shame these tales overshadow a dominant pitching career that led him to Cooperstown.
Waddell broke into the big leagues just before the turn of the century. His first four seasons were in the NL with Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. The southpaw went 29-32 in the Senior Circuit but showed flashes of brilliance.
In 1900 he posted an 8-13 record but led the league in ERA, Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), and walks plus hits/innings pitched (WHIP).
Waddell’s erratic behavior wore out his welcome with teammates and management. That temporarily subsided when he switched leagues and jumped to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902.
Two weeks after he donned the A’s uniform Waddell struck out the side on nine pitches in the American League’s first immaculate inning. He pitched brilliantly during his entire tenure with the Athletics from 1902-1907.
During that time he tallied 131 wins with a miniscule 1.97 ERA. Four times he topped the 20-win plateau including a league-leading 27 in 1905.
Each season in Philadelphia he led the league in strikeouts. In 1903 he struck out 302 batters. The following season he upped the total to 349.
Waddell was an efficient run-preventer. All of his seasons with the Athletics featured ERAs lower than 2.50. He pushed that figure even lower in 1904 (1.62) and 1905 (1.48). Four times he led the AL in FIP.
With an electric fastball, devastating curveball, baffling screwball, and an unpredictably entertaining style, Waddell was the top drawing card of his day.
Waddell’s manager for those six dominant years was the legendary Connie Mack. According to the Hall of Fame’s website, the 66-year baseball man said of Waddell, “He had more stuff than any pitcher I ever saw,”
Soon after Waddell left the A’s his talent started to fade. Combined with his difficulty getting along with others, he simply wasn’t worth the trouble.
Waddell pitched his last big league game on August 1, 1910. He finished his career with a 193-143 record and a 2.16 ERA.
In 1912 Waddell was living in on the banks of the Mississippi River in Hickman, Kentucky. In winter, the river’s waters rose and threatened to flood the town. Waddell stood in the icy water stacking sandbags to help save the town.
Because of the episode he contracted pneumonia and weakened his immune system. Soon he also fell victim to tuberculosis. As his condition worsened, Mack and A’s co-owner Ben Shibe paid for his medical care.
A weathered and weakened Rube Waddell passed away on April 1, 1914 at age 37.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.
Because of his early demise, Waddell’s signature remains quite scarce. It is not in the collection at this time.
Christy Mathewson and Waddell each earned the pitching Triple Crown in 1905
Christy Mathewson and Waddell each earned the pitching Triple Crown in 1905
Rube Waddell earned the American League pitching Triple Crown in 1905 when his 27 wins, 1,48 ERA and 287 strikeouts topped the league. That same year, the NL’s Christy Mathewson also earned the honor.
The two-crown season was the first of its kind in baseball history.
Mathewson led all of baseball with 31 victories and a stingy 1.28 earned run average. His 206 Ks were topped only by American League hurlers Waddell, Rube’s Athletics teammate Eddie Plank, and Boston’s Cy Young.
The NL/AL pitching Triple Crown feat has happened only twice since Waddell and Matty did it in ’05. The second time came in 1918 when Hippo Vaughn and Walter Johnson stood atop the baseball world.
In 1924 Brooklyn’s Dazzy Vance topped both circuits in wins (28), ERA (2.16), and strikeouts (262). The Big Train took home his third career Triple Crown with an AL-leading 23 victories, 2.72 ERA and 158 strikeouts.
Shown here is an autograph of Waddell’s Triple Crown mate Christy Mathewson.
