Rube Marquard
From BR Bullpen
Richard William Marquard
- Bats Both, Throws Left
- Height 6' 3", Weight 180 lb.
- Debut September 25, 1908
- Final Game September 18, 1925
- Born October 9, 1886 in Cleveland, OH USA
- Died June 1, 1980 in Baltimore, MD USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1971
Hall of Fame pitcher Richard "Rube" Marquard won 201 games in his 18 year major league career.
Marquard began his baseball career in the sandlots of Cleveland, Ohio and defied his parents by signing his first pro contract. He won 23 games with the Canton Chinamen in 1907 and 28 games with the Indianapolis Indians in 1908. The New York Giants then paid a record $11,000 to get him to join their team. Initially nicknamed the "$11,000 Beauty", he became known as the "$11,000 Lemon" after winning just 9 games in his first two full seasons with the club. However, he rebounded in 1911, winning 24 games and leading the National League with 237 strikeouts.
In 1912, Marquard won 19 consecutive decisions, beginning on Opening Day. In the World Series that year, he threw a pair of complete games, winning both and giving up only one earned run.
In his first start of the 1915 season, Marquard threw a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15th.
Marquard later went on to play for the Dodgers, where he was reunited with his former coach, Wilbert Robinson, who was then managing Brooklyn. Later, he spent a year with the Cincinnati Reds and then finished his playing career with the Boston Braves.
Rube was not only known for his fastball but for his ability to control the ball, as well as a forkball changeup.
After his playing days, Marquard was a manager, coach, scout, and even an umpire. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.
Marquard did not earn his nickname because he was unsophisticated. Instead, he was given the nickname because he was considered "the next Rube Waddell" early in his career. Away from the diamond, he married a well-known Broadway actress.
"I had a lot of fun playing ball and made pretty good money, too. ...The only regret I have in baseball is that never in my life did I get to see Ty Cobb play." - Marquard
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[edit] Notable Achievements
- NL Wins Leader (1912)
- NL Winning Percentage Leader (1911)
- NL Strikeouts Leader (1911)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 5 (1911-1913, 1917 & 1921)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 3 (1911-1913)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 9 (1911-1914, 1916-1918, 1921 & 1923)
- 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1911)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1971
[edit] Records Held
- Consecutive wins, season, 19, 1912 (tied)
[edit] Further Reading
- Lawrence Ritter: The Glory of Their Times, The Macmillan Company, New York, NY, 1966, pp. 1-19.
