Nap Rucker

George Napoleon "Nap" Rucker (September 30, 1884 – December 19, 1970) was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers/Robins. Over his 10 seasons, Rucker lead the league in Shutouts, Complete Game, and Innings Pitched throughout his career. On September 5, 1908, Rucker became the first left-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Dodger history.[1]

Nap Rucker
Starting pitcher
Born: (1884-09-30)September 30, 1884
Crabapple, Georgia
Died: December 19, 1970(1970-12-19) (aged 86)
Alpharetta, Georgia
Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 15, 1907, for the Brooklyn Superbas
Last MLB appearance
September 13, 1916, for the Brooklyn Robins
MLB statistics
Win–loss record134–134
Earned run average2.42
Strikeouts1,217
Teams
  • Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers/Robins (1907–1916)
Career highlights and awards

Career

Pitching Career (1907-1916)

Rucker threw a no-hitter against the Boston Doves on September 5, 1908 . He led the National League in complete games (27), innings pitched (320.1), and shutouts (6) in 1910. His best year was 1911, when he won 22 games for the Dodgers. He holds the Brooklyn Dodgers record for the most shutouts in the National League (38); most strikeouts (16) in a regulation nine-inning game, and the most 1-0 shutouts (3) in a 154-game season. He became strictly a knuckleball pitcher when his speed declined.[2]

MLB Hall of Fame

In 1936, Rucker became eligible for the MLB Hall of Fame. As a player who received more than 5.0% of votes cast, Rucker remained eligible for induction by the Baseball Writers' Association of America until 1946, when his time on the ballot expired after 10 unsuccessful appearances. His highest percentage of votes earned came in his final year on the ballot, receiving 6.4% of the vote in 1946.

Following his unsuccessful nominations, Yankees Hall of Fame manager, Casey Stengel, said about Rucker, "If it hadn't been for Nap, I reckon I wouldn't be manager of the Yankees now. I wouldn't have even stayed in baseball."[3]

Later Life: Mayor of Roswell

Rucker was born in Crabapple, Georgia. After his baseball career, Rucker went on to a successful business career, and served as mayor of Roswell from 1935 to 1936, and as the city's water commissioner after his mayoral term. Rucker was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1967. Rucker died in Alpharetta, Georgia in 1970 and was interred in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Roswell, Georgia.[4]

Personal life

His nephew Johnny Rucker played baseball for the New York Giants.

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See also

References
  1. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/22be16b1
  2. https://www.psacard.com/autographfacts/baseball/nap-rucker/902
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1970/12/21/archives/nap-rucker-86-ace-southpaw-for-old-rrooklyn-dodgers-dies-excelled.html
  4. https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/thisday/gahistory/09/30/nap-rucker-born
  • Roswell, A Pictorial History, Roswell Historical Society, Darlene M. Walsh (Editor), 2nd Edition, 1994, p. 253, ISBN 0-9615854-2-0.
Preceded by
Elmer Stricklett
Kaiser Wilhelm
Cy Barger		 Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers Opening Day
Starting pitcher
1908
1910
1912–1913		 Succeeded by
Kaiser Wilhelm
Cy Barger
Ed Reulbach
Preceded by
Hooks Wiltse		 No-hitter pitcher
September 5, 1908		 Succeeded by
Bob Rhoads
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