Nap Rucker
Encyclopedia
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
. He was born in Crabapple
, Georgia
.
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 Dodger record for the most shutouts in the National League (38); most strikeouts (16) in a regulation nine-innings game, and the most 1-0 shutouts (3) in a 154 games season. He became strictly a knuckleball
pitcher when his speed declined. Sportswriter W.R. Hoefer described the result in poetic terms:
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
.
His nephew Johnny Rucker
played baseball for the New York Giants
.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers/Robins
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He was born in Crabapple
Crabapple, Georgia
Centered today at the crossroads of Georgia Highways 140 and 372 , Crabapple, Georgia, is one of the oldest parts of Fulton County, Georgia. Originally part of Cherokee County, Georgia, , Crabapple was part of the land contributed in 1857 to form Milton County, Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Rucker threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Boston Doves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
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 Dodger record for the most shutouts in the National League (38); most strikeouts (16) in a regulation nine-innings game, and the most 1-0 shutouts (3) in a 154 games season. He became strictly a knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
pitcher when his speed declined. Sportswriter W.R. Hoefer described the result in poetic terms:
- "He used to pitch a ball with lots of smoke; and the stock of curves he carried was no joke. In the days of yesteryear he could burn the atmosphere as he made the slugging biffers swear and choke. But the sizzling speed has left his ancient wing and he throws a floating ball that doesn't sing. Yet he fools the swatters still with his hesitation pill, smiling grimly as the clouters fail to bing. All the stuff he has is just a dinky curve with a clever head and lots of sand and nerve, but the way batters fall for his foolish looking ball shows he's still a winning Hurling Hill Reserve. Nap lobs his fork-hand floaters o'er the plate and the batter sees 'em forty minutes late.”
After his baseball career, Rucker went on to a successful business career and served as mayor of Roswell
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
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
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located in Macon, Georgia. It is the largest state sports hall of fame in America at .-Exhibitions:The Hall of Fame houses over of exhibit space broken down into sections including Hall of Fame Inductees, High School, collegiate sports, Olympic, Paralympic,...
in 1967. Rucker died in Alpharetta, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
in 1970 and was interred in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Roswell, Georgia
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
.
His nephew Johnny Rucker
Johnny Rucker
John Joel Rucker , was a Major League Baseball player who played outfielder from -. He would play for the New York Giants.-External links:...
played baseball for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters