Rube Waddell
Inducted:
1946
Rube Waddell was one of the most dominant and eccentric pitchers of baseball’s early era. A left-hander with a blazing fastball and baffling curve, Waddell led the American League in strikeouts six consecutive times from 1902 to 1907.
His unpredictable behavior, including leaving games to chase fire trucks or wrestling alligators in the offseason, made him a fan favorite and a manager’s nightmare.
Despite his quirks, Waddell's talent on the mound was undeniable — he won 193 games, including four 20-win seasons, and recorded 349 strikeouts in 1904 alone, a mark that stood until 1965. He helped the Philadelphia Athletics to the 1905 AL pennant and was a key figure in popularizing strikeouts as a thrilling part of the game.
Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946, Waddell remains one of the game's most fascinating and gifted early stars.
Waddell's Awards and Records
- Triple Crown (1905)
- AL wins leader (1905)
- 2× ERA leader (1900, 1905)
- 6× AL strikeout leader (1902–1907)
- Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame
- Athletics Hall of Fame
- Inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame (1946)
- 349 Strikeouts in 1904 (MLB single-season record until 1965)
- 4× 20-Win Seasons
- Career ERA of 2.16 (Top 15 all-time)
- Helped Philadelphia A’s win 1905 AL Pennant
- Known for his wild personality and unmatched strikeout ability
- One of the first pitchers to be a fan attraction
MLB Teams:
Louisville Colonels (1897, 1899)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1900–1901)
Chicago Orphans (1901)
Philadelphia Athletics (1902–1907)
St. Louis Browns (1908–1910)
MLB Stats
Seasons:
13 (1897–1910)
Games Played:
407
Wins–Losses:
193–143
ERA:
2.16
Strikeouts:
2,316
Complete Games:
261
Shutouts:
50
Innings Pitched:
2,961.1