Show RUCKER ONE OF Or BIG SOUTHPAWS Lasted More l Than 10 Years in National League It was In 1007 1907 that Nap Rucker then young younS made first appear appear- appearance appearance ance In big league circles A very unsophisticated youngster was this southpaw variety of a Georgia Peach when he landed in Brooklyn It was the tho first trip north of Mason Dix Dix- Dixon Dixon Dix on on line he ever had bad taken lie ne con con- contracted contracted con contracted a kink in hl his neck looking up at nt the tho tall buildings of Greater Grenter New York for they were consider consider- considerably considerably considerably ably higher than the ones he had been used to gazing nt at down Alpharetta Alp ta aret- aret aretta ta way Nap had been a n teammate of TyCobb's TyCobb's Ty Cobbs Cobb's during 1901 1001 I and 1005 1905 lIe never ne had the pleasure of pitching against the other Peach consequent consequent- consequently ly never ne found out ont by actual test just how hard Ty could hit hlf hl a ball Ty on the other hand never ne found out just how well Nap could pitch and what a swell hurler he was However cr both became famous r Rucker was one of the twelve hurlers of the southpaw brand who survived more than ten years of big pitching During his time with the Brooklyn club the only club I he was with he pitched wonderful ball but the tho team durin during that perIod was a chronic second division outfit and In only the lie last two to seasons of his career did it move up in the race and in n lOW 1010 won a pennant but Nap was doing his farewell stunt for that Teat great left arm wits was all nil in It was the honor he lie had waited long Ions for but came camo too late although he pitched two Innings In one of the games and dId nobly September 2 1003 Rucker pitched one of Ute the greatest no-hit no run no-run no games ever recorded Boston failed to tomake tomake male make a n hit or run and In the nine Innings he lie dl didn't nt issue a n run or pass or have a n pitching error of any kind To crown this brilliant work he lie fanned fourteen batsman Ills His team mates marred the record by making two errors er- er errors er errors July 24 2 1009 Rucker equaled the modern day strikeout record when he fanned sixteen of the St Louis Cardinals In nine Innings To add adda adda n a little more class to this feat feat tie he held the Car Cards s to a pair of singles |