Nap Rucker

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George Napoleon "Nap" Rucker (September 30, 1884 – December 19, 1970) was an American professional baseball pitcher and politician from Georgia. Rucker was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers/Robins. Over his 10 seasons, Rucker led the league in shutouts, complete games, 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early yearsEdit

Rucker was born in Crabapple, Georgia, to parents Sarah Hembree and John Rucker, a Confederate veteran. He dropped out of school and became an apprentice printer. Inspired by a headline he worked on entitled "$10,000 For Pitching a Baseball", Rucker pursued a minor league career.<ref name="NGE_NapRucker">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Professional baseballEdit

Minor leagueEdit

In 1904. Rucker played with the Atlanta Crackers in the Southern Association. He then spent the following two years playing for the Augusta Tourists in the South Atlantic League and compiled a 40–20 win–loss record during that span. Rucker also roomed with Ty Cobb during his time with the Tourists.<ref name="NGE_NapRucker" />

Major league (1907–1916)Edit

File:G. N. Rucker-Jake Daubert, Brooklyn Superbas, baseball card portrait LCCN2007683860.jpg

1911 baseball card

Rucker played for the Brooklyn Superbas for his entire major league career.<ref name="NGE_NapRucker" /> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MLB Hall of FameEdit

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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Later life: Mayor of RoswellEdit

Rucker was born in Crabapple, Georgia. After his baseball career, Rucker went on to a successful business career including investing in a local bank and ownership of a plantation, several cotton farms, a wheat mill. He also served as mayor of Roswell from 1935 to 1936.<ref name = "RoswellPictorialHistory">Template:Cite book</ref> After serving as mayor. Rucker was responsible for creating Roswell's first supply of running water and served as the city's water commissioner for many years. Rucker was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1967. Rucker died in Alpharetta, Georgia, in 1970 and was interred in the Roswell Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Roswell, Georgia.<ref name="NGE_NapRucker" />

Personal lifeEdit

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

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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