by Max Silberman

When A’s fans mention great left-handed pitchers, the names of Lefty Grove, Eddie Plank and Bobby Shantz immediately spring to mind. When Phillie Curt Schilling struck out 300 batters for the second consecutive year in 1998, he joined an elite group of five pitchers including the A’s wacky Rube Waddell.

He was christened “George” but everyone knew the Hall of Fame southpaw as “Rube”. In 1904, Waddell struck out 343 batters, although some older sources give him credit for 349. Bob Feller topped the lower figure in 1946. Although his lifetime record of 193-138 was impressive, he was nothing less than phenomenal from 1902-1905 posting a 24-7 mark in 1902, 22-16 in 1903, 26-17 in 1904 and 26-11 in 1905.

Connie Mack knew of Waddell’s eccentricities when he signed him to a contract. Two Pinkerton guards had to be hired to escort Waddell from California as he was reluctant to leave Los Angeles and could not be trusted to come on his own.

Among Waddell’s favorite activities were: wrestling alligators. drinking alcoholic beverages, pretending to be an automaton in store windows, fishing, or playing with children. If a fire engine, parade, or circus happened to go by Columbia Park, Waddell would most likely pick up and leave as he would any time the opportunity for romance or tending bar presented itself.

In 1905, Waddell refused to sign his contract. Mr. Mack assured him that he would not get another dime. Waddell replied that he did not want more money, only a guarantee that his room-mate and catcher Ossie Schreckengost, (Schreck) be forbidden to eat animal crackers in bed. In those days, room-mates shared a double bed and Schreck’s crumbs or noise annoyed Waddell. An alternate version of this apocryphal tale was that Waddell ate the crackers and Schreck complained to Connie Mack. In any event, Mr. Mack had his hands full with these two talented but simple minded room-mates.

Waddell had a good heart and a heroic nature, he once rescued a woman from a fire in Washington, D.C. He jumped off a ship to save a woman overboard, but that turned out to be a hoax. He died in April 1914, having contracted pneumonia while working at a flood site. He was only 37 years old.Oddly enough, his cracker-eating friend Schreck died only four months later at the ge of 39.

Together, these two zany stars formed an unforgettable slice of Athletics history.