Rube Waddell The Pitcher Who Loved Fire Trucks

 

Rube Waddell was one of the most dominant pitchers in the early 1900s. He led the league in strikeouts, baffled hitters, and could throw smoke.

 

Unfortunately… He was easily distracted by smoke.

 

Rube loved fire trucks. And not in a casual, “oh neat” way. In a drop-everything-and-follow-the-sirens way.

 

More than once, while pitching — mid-game — Rube would hear a fire bell in the distance.

 

He’d stop pitching, wander toward the outfield, and if the opportunity presented itself, he’d  leave the ballpark to chase the fire engine down the street.

 

Imagine being a catcher in 1905. You’ve just called for a curveball. You look up, and  the pitcher is gone because there’s a ladder truck three blocks away.

 

Managers tried everything. Teammates tried bribery. Opponents sometimes delayed the game because they wanted to see what he’d do next.

 

And somehow — he was still one of the best pitchers in baseball.

 

Rube Waddell could strike out the side, or abandon the mound for a hose and a bell. You just never knew which inning you were getting.

 

Baseball has had geniuses and eccentrics, but one Hall of Famer treated a fire alarm like a starting pistol.