Rube Waddell is the greatest pitcher in baseball history.
Not necessarily in terms of statistics, though he is a Hall of Famer and still holds the AL record for most single-season strikeouts by a lefty (349) that he set in 1904. No, Rube is the official patron saint of Rumors and Rants because of his unusual personality, which included chasing after fire engines on foot, losing count of how many times he’d been married, missing starts because he was drunk or playing marbles with kids in the street and a contractual clause prohibiting him from eating crackers in bed.
It’s all true. You can look it up.
Needless to say, there hasn’t been anyone quite like Rube since, much to the relief of every big league manager. Connie Mack once had to use Pinkerton detectives to deliver Rube to Philadelphia to play for the Athletics.
But there finally just may be a Rube Lite in the making — Aroldis Chapman.
The Reds closer did a pair of somersaults after striking out Martin “Don’t Call Me Candy” M...
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June 27, 2012
