Description
PLAYER: Nap Rucker
VARIATION: Portrait
TEAM: Brooklyn Superbas (Modern Day Dodgers)
LEAGUE: National
BACK: Sovereign 150 (26/39)
GRADE: SGC 3 VG (124) 1153-013
THE CARD
A solid and highly presentable example of Brooklyn Superba’s “South Paw” Nap Rucker. The card features the Sovereign 150 advertising reverse (ranked 26 of 39 in terms of scarcity according to T206 resource).
NAP RUCKER
George Napoleon Rucker
Born: September 30, 1884 – Crabapple, GA
Died: December 19, 1970 – Alpharetta, GA
Batted: RH
Threw: LH
Position: P
MLB Pitching Record: 134–134
ERA: 2.42
Team:
Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers/Robins NL (1907–1916)
Nap Rucker came up to Brooklyn after starring in the South Atlantic League, going 27–9 with a 1.95 ERA in 1906 for the Augusta Tourists when he was 21. His MLB pitching record is deceptive. He holds the Dodgers’ record for the most shutouts (38) and the most strikeouts (16) in a 9-inning game. He also threw a no-hitter against Boston in 1908. Rucker surely would have had a very good record if he had played on better teams. In 1910 he led the National League in shutouts (6), complete games (27), and innings pitched (320). He led the league in shutouts (6) again in 1912. After his career, Rucker became a successful Georgia businessman, owning two cotton plantations and a wheat mill. He was a bank investor, served as mayor of Roswell, Georgia, from 1935 to 1936, and became the water commissioner after his term as mayor. He also scouted for the Dodgers for many years. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1967.
An excerpt from the hit book “The T206 Collection – The Players & Their Stories” by Tom & Ellen Zappala. Click HERE to order the SECOND EDITION