R. Waddell Pitch

George Edward "Rube" Waddell (1876–1914) is captured here in the T206 White Border R. Waddell Pitching pose, one of two T206 Waddell variations alongside the Portrait, and a card whose St. Louis Browns team line marks the closing chapter of his career. Born October 13, 1876 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, the left-hander was the eccentric strikeout king of the deadball era, leading the American League in punchouts six straight years from 1902 through 1907 and posting a single-season record of 349 in 1904 that stood until Sandy Koufax broke it in 1965. He spent his peak years with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics from 1902 through 1907 before being shipped to St. Louis, where he pitched through 1910. His off-field life was as eventful as the strikeout totals — chasing fire engines, wrestling alligators in the offseason, and disappearing on benders that drove Mack to distraction. He died of tuberculosis April 1, 1914 in San Antonio, Texas at 37 and is buried at Mission Burial Park there. The Hall of Fame elected him in 1946.