If you haven’t seen it, I’ve been engaged (in the comments for these two posts) in a dialogue with Rube Waddell biographer Dan O’Brien about whether or not I’ve actually uncovered enough evidence to establish that Waddell faced Rube Foster in a game in 1903.
In the meantime Scott Simkus has been able to add to the discussion by finding an instance where Rube Waddell was advertised as pitching for the Murray Hills against the Philadelphia Giants, albeit in 1905:
(New York Evening World, June 24, 1905, p. 7)
This is what Scott says:
Phil Dixon [in his book on the 1905 Philadelphia Giants] has the Giants rallying for ten runs in the ninth to defeat Murray Hills 14-13 on June 25. Phil was mystified by why Rube Foster, the Giants pitcher, had trouble getting anybody out. No mention of Rube Waddell, no mention of players in the Murray Hills line-up. The Athletics had a played at home a day or so earlier, were off on Sunday and then went to Washington DC for a series. Could Waddell have been joined by his mates (or some of them, anyway) in New York, to make a couple quick bucks? If the Philly Giants were losing 13-4 going into the 9th, did Waddell tire or get taken out of the game?
For my own part I haven’t uncovered any accounts of this game. But it’s interesting that we now twice have Waddell linked to a game that featured Rube Foster vs. the Murray Hills. Anybody who feels like jumping in with additional information, please do!
UPDATE 9/20/2012: Dan O'Brien, commenting on a different post:
Washington Post—June 27, 1905, page 8:
“‘Rube’ Waddell was advertised to pitch for the Murray Hills in New York on Sunday, but the ‘Rube’ spent the day quietly in Washington.” That's the only way one could spend it here.
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