On this date (July 1) in 1902, Philadelphia Athletics southpaw George Edward “Rube” Waddell became the first American League pitcher (and second major leaguer) to toss an “Immaculate Inning” (three strikeouts on nine pitches). It came in the sixth inning of a 2-0 Athletics win over the Baltimore Orioles. (The victims were Billy Gilbert, Harry Howell and Jack Cronin). In the two-hit shutout, Waddell faced the minimum 27 batters, fanning 13. Side note: The first-ever Immaculate Inning was thrown on June 4, 1889, by John Clarkson of the National Leaguer Boston Beaneaters versus the Philadelphia Quakers.
How good was Waddell in 1902? The lefty started the 1902 season in the minors, with Los Angeles Angels of the California League – where he had pitched to a 12-8 record by late June. The Philadelphia Athletics’ Connie Mack took notice and signed Waddell. At the time Waddell made his first appearance for the Athletics (June 26), the team was in fourth place, just one game over .500 (26-25) and six games behind the league-leading the White Sox. With Waddell showing the way, they would go 57-28 over the rest of the season, taking the AL pennant, finishing five games up on the second-place Saint Louis Browns. Let’s look at what Waddell accomplished in 1902.
Now, it’s important to remember Waddell made his first mound appearance on June 27, with just 86 games left in the season. He proceeded to win 24 games (the league’s second-highest total, behind only Cy Young’s 32 wins; and Young had 43 starts to Waddell’s 27 and 45 appearances to Waddell ‘s 33). Waddell also put up the league’s second-best earned run average (2.05). Despite his shortened season, Waddell led the AL with 210 strikeouts, fifty more than the runner-up (again Cy Young, who pitched 384 2/3 innings to Waddell’s 276 1/3). Waddell went on to lead the AL in strikeouts over the next five seasons – by wide margins. The lefty who relied primarily on an exceptional fastball and hard curve also led the NL in strikeouts per nine innings in 1900 and the AL every season from 1902 through 1907. (He finished second in the NL in K/9 in 1901 and fourth in the AL in 1909.) He also allowed the fewest hits per nine frames in the NL in 1900 and the AL in 1905 – and finished in his league’s top five in five seasons.
Waddell – A Truly Eccentric Lefty
Now southpaws are acknowledged (whether justifiably is debatable) in baseball lore to, at times, be a bit “eccentric.” Waddell was clearly NOT “the exception that proved the rule.” He is recognized (justifiably) as one of the zaniest player in MLB history – but he also was one of the best (when he was focused on the game). Waddell was known to: leave a ball game to chase fire engines; miss a game he was scheduled to start because he was fishing or playing marbles with neighborhood kids; bring his outfielders in to sit on the grass and then proceed to fan the side (only in exhibition games, of course); wrestle alligators in the off-season; enjoy more than an occasional libation; and (frequently) do battle with owners and managers. (It has also been reported that Waddell, during his career, found time to ride ostriches, spontaneously join and lead parades, assist fire fighters on the job, go into the stands to confront hecklers – and was once even bitten by a lion that he had, for some reason, decided to punch. This is the stuff of legends.) Waddell simply was more interested in enjoying life in his own way than in money or professional stability.
Still, when Waddell set his mind and his heart to it, he could be something pretty special on the mound. Thanks to his unpredictability, however, his professional career included stints with five major league clubs (13 seasons) and numerous minor league, independent, semi-pro and barn-storming teams. For BBRT’s Minnesota readers, Waddell was a 20-game winner for the 1911 American Association champion Minneapolis Millers.
Symmetry
Rube Waddell was born on Friday the 13 of October in 1876 and died on April Fools day 1914.
Waddell – A Strikeout “Artist”
In 1904, Waddell set a modern (post-1900) MLB record with 349 strikeouts that stood until 1965 (when Sandy Koufax fanned 382). The next highest total in 1904 went to the Giants’ Jack Chesbro, a full 110 whiffs behind Waddell – despite pitching 71 2/3 more innings. That season, Waddell averaged 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings, at a time when the league average was 3.8.
Have a Seat, Batter
Rube Waddell fanned 302 batters in 1903 and 349 in 1904, making him the first modern-era (post 1900) pitcher to record two 300-strikeout seasons. To date, only nine pitchers have recorded multiple 300-whiff campaigns, led by Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson with six each. Only 19 pitcher have recorded 300-strikeout seasons since 1900.
The Pitcher’s Triple Crown – Wins, ERA, Strikeouts
Waddell had his best season in 1905, when he led the American League in wins (27 – versus ten losses); earned run average (1.48); winning percentage (.730); and strikeouts (287). He tossed 27 complete games and seven shutouts in 34 starts.
Waddell, elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, finished with a 193-143, 2.16 stat line. In the four seasons from 1902-1905, pitching for the Philadelphia Athletics, Waddell went 97-52, with a 1.88 earned run average and 1,148 strikeouts (versus 330 walks). In those four peak campaigns, he threw 1,312 innings (an average of 328 innings per season), completed 126 of 145 starts and twirled 22 shutouts.
A Peer Review
In my opinion, and I suppose if there is any subject I am qualified to discuss it is pitching, Rube Waddell had more sheet pitching ability than any man I ever saw.”
Hall of Famer Walter Johnson (Source, National Baseball Hall of Fame)
For more on Waddell, BBRT suggests: “Rube Waddell: The Zany, Brilliant Life of a Strikeout Artist,” by Allan Howard Levy and “Just a Big Kid: The Life and Times of Rube Waddell,” by Paul Proia. They are both good reads.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; “Rube Waddell: The Zany, Brilliant Life of a Strikeout Artist,” by Allan Howard Levy and “Just a Big Kid: The Life and Times of Rube Waddell,” by Paul Proia.
Coming Soon: The Baseball Roundtable “Who’s Your Daddy?” Series – Max Scherzer edition.
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