Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1912 — WADDELL WAS PEER OF All SOUTHPAWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WADDELL WAS PEER OF All SOUTHPAWS

Conceding that all of these left-hand-ers have merit, old-timers refuse to believe that any of them excel the celebrated Rube Waddell when the latter allowed himself to be led around by the nose by Connie Mack. For the Athletics Waddell pitched peerless baseball for several seasons. A disturber and a rule breaker under other managers, the Rube was as meek as a lamb under Mack, and without word of complaint he did an enormous amount of work. Though painfully eccentric Waddell showed headwork and skill. He held the league’s strike-out record for a single season until it was topped by Walter Johnson of the Washingtons. His control was especially good and he had the number of practically every batsman who faced him. Tom Ramsey, of the old Louisville club, was another left-handed yvorld beater. For many years he was rated as the kingpin and his ability earned a big salary until he fell by the wayside because of his habits. 'Kllroy of the Baltimore American association team of more tEan 20 years ago was a wonder. The BostonS in the old days had a corker in Kid Madden. Then Pittsburg boasted of Ed Morris, and Detroit won a world’s championship chiefly through the southpaw work of Lady Baldwin. Probably the first really great lefthander In the National league was Charley Buffington, who helped Boston win a pennant in 1883. Buffington had a drop ball that baffled the heaviest sluggers. He used it incessantly together with curves that finally wore out his pitching arm. But as veterans

remember him, he was one of the greatest pitchers that ever wore a toe plate. St. Louis, In Von der Abe’s reign,, had a star in Theodore Breitenstein, a little sorrel-topped fellow who never knew when he had enough. With great speed and beautiful control Breitenstein did splendid work, and finally Von der Abe sold him to Cincinnati for SIO,OOO. That was 20 years ago, yet Brelt was playing ball last year in the Southern association.

Rube Waddell.