May 20, 1914 Age 23
By W. J. O’Connor. St Louis Post Dispatch
Considerable strategy used in that Cardinal conquest of Tuesday resulted in a complete rout for Napoleon Rucker and all the other Brooklyn cadets, 6-2. Gen. Huggins outmaneuvered the famed Napoleon in the early stages of the struggle and forced him to break ground in the fifth under a fusillade of idiots from the Cardinal field guns.
For three innings the Cards played a waiting game. They made Rucker pitch, and “he flung a few;” for, although the Cards played out their string to the limit, only one man walked – Hug, in the first frame. In the third Hug had Rucker in the hole, three balls and no strikes, but the renowned southpaw then settled down and forced Hug to pop to Daubert.
In the fourth Huggins switched. The order went out to hit the first ball. Dolan. who had broken off a single in the first, opened the fourth and “kissed” the first ball pitched for a double to left. Dot Miller then waded into the first ball and deposited a triple in left center, scoring Dolan. Wilson wopped the first ball and prod a single to center, scoring Miller. By that time Rucker was groggy and stalled for time, refusing to put the first ball over. He escaped with only two runs being scored.
Hug Outguesses Rucker.
In the very next round, though, Huggins again crossed Rucker. Assuming a crouching position at the plate, after the fashion of a man trying to coax a pass, Hug straightened up as Rucker pitched the first ball and salted a double in left. Magee failed, but Dolan ripped a single to left, scoring Hug and sending Rucker to the stable.
It was a well-designed attack and won the day. Rucker, it is true, has been suffering from an attack of tonsillitis, but he showed no symptoms of illness in the first inning when he escaped unscathed after the Cards had men on first and third with only one out. Indeed had not Mr. Huggins out-guessed Napoleon he might have suffered through nine innings despite his throat.
Opposed to Rucker was Polly Perritt, a much improved pitcher. Polly was found for seven hits, three of which came in the ninth inning after Polly was fatigued because of his base running.
Pitcher Steals Third.
In the Cardinals’ portion of the eighth, Polly deliberately stole third when the hit-and-run misfired with Magee at bat. Polly went to the bench slightly fatigued and just couldn’t get going at the start of the ninth. His margin of victory was so secure, however, that he had no reason to worry about the punch-less attack of the enemy in the last round.
The victory was the fifth straight for the Cardinals and elevated Hug’s team to a tie with the Phillies and Superbas for fourth place. It was the third successive conquest over Brooklyn and in disposing of Rucker the local crew got rid of their most dangerous foe.
It is Willie Doak’s turn to hurl in the final frolic with the Superbas Wednesday with Don Carlos. Patrick Ragan will probably work for Brooklyn.
The fans have shown their appreciation of the improved playing. The attendance Tuesday was estimated at 2600 which is the second biggest week-day turn-out of the season. Wednesday the bankers will be entertained.