As I have started into 1910, I have come upon Walter Johnson's 1st great year - 25-17, 1.36 ERA, and 313 strikeouts. As I mentioned a few posts ago, it seems as if the Washington Post changed the format of their boxscores around the beginning of July, eliminating batter strikeouts from the boxscores. But what recently caught my eye was a reference in the Chicago Tribune mentioning that Johnson had past Rube Waddell's AL record of 301 strikeouts in a season. Well, a easy look at any current encyclopedia or Baseball Reference.com site will show that Waddell's top K total was 349 in 1904. Apparently, either they forgot about 1904 (citing 1903) or had their 1904 totals wrong. Pete Palmer or John Schwartz sent me an article from a 1946 Sporting News issue in which Cliff Kachline had corrected the error of how many K's Waddell had.in 1904 page 2 has a mention of the article.
Rube Waddell was a phenomenon in the early 20th century - a brilliant and fearsome pitcher who was just (if not moreso) erratic. But when he was on, he was on.
While this blog entry is going to concentrate on 1903 and a subsequent one on 1904, one could make a case for his 1902 season in which he struck out 210 (6.8 per 9 ip). Why? 1902 was the year before the implemenation of the foul strike rule in the American League. Waddell's previous season, 1901, when he struck out 172 in 251 1/3 innings was the first year of the foul strike rule in the National League.
In 1902, Waddell, his 1st year in the AL, led the AL in strikeouts by 50 (Cy Young was 2nd with 160), but more remarkable was how much he led by in k's per 9 innings - Waddell's 6.8 nearly DOUBLED Jack Powell's 2nd place number of 3.7 k's per 9. But as for raw numbers, 1902 was just a warmup. Once the foul strike rule was implemented, strikeouts as a rule went up in the AL (as they did in the NL in 1901), and Rube Waddell enjoyed 2 of the most dominating (in terms as versus the rest of the league) strikeout seasons.
In 1903, in 324 innings, Waddell struck out 302 (I counted 301).
In 1904, in 383 innings, he struck out 349 (I counted 350).
In 1903, he had 11 games with 10 or more strikeouts - George Mullin was second with 3 games
A couple of years ago, the late Mr. Schwartz sent me a list that he had compiled of all of Walter Johnson's strikeouts by batter for his rookie season of 1907 - it was complete except maybe 5. His research corrected an error in Johnson's 1907 total.
This inspired me about a year ago to do the same with Waddell's 1903 and 1904 seasons.
I was able to find the batter for 288 of the 301whiffs (95%). 11 batter strikeouts from 4 games in Stl Louis and 2 k's from 2 games in DC are still unaccounted for.
Now the stats!
In 1903, here are Waddell's game by game totals:
One thing that you will notice really quickly is that there are No Games After August 21st. So his 301 (302) strikeouts came with more than a month and half left in the season!
To quote from his BIOPROJ page: "....even though his season ended prematurely on August 25 when he failed to appear for his scheduled start in Cleveland. Mack, weary of Rube's frequent unexcused absences, suspended him for the remainder of the season."
A nice brief bio can be found at the SABR BIOPROJ website: Rube Waddell's BIOPROJ page
Date Strikeouts
| 20-Apr | 9 |
| 22-Apr | 9 |
| 25-Apr | 11 |
| 28-Apr | 7 |
| 8-May | 9 |
| 11-May | 13 |
| 14-May | 1 |
| 15-May | 13 |
| 19-May | 4 |
| 23-May | 6 |
| 26-May | 8 |
| 30-May | 11 |
| 1-Jun | 6 |
| 4-Jun | 1 |
| 5-Jun | 6 |
| 9-Jun | 7 |
| 12-Jun | 14 |
| 16-Jun | 4 |
| 19-Jun | 3 |
| 24-Jun | 6 |
| 27-Jun | 8 |
| 30-Jun | 5 |
| 4-Jul | 9 |
| 6-Jul | 6 |
| 11-Jul | 7 |
| 14-Jul | 14 |
| 17-Jul | 12 |
| 23-Jul | 6 |
| 25-Jul | 8 |
| 27-Jul | 6 |
| 30-Jul | 4 |
| 1-Aug | 13 |
| 5-Aug | 11 |
| 11-Aug | 6 |
| 14-Aug | 6 |
| 16-Aug | 7 |
| 18-Aug | 12 |
| 21-Aug | 13 |
| Grand Total | 301 |
The following is a breakdown of which batters struck out the most against Waddell that year, by game.
Emmett Heidrick leads the pack with 12 Gus Hill acts (late 19th century whiff term) in 6 games vs. Waddell, including 4 times on July 17th. Frank Isbell was second with 10 whiffs in 4 games.
| Heidrick | 12 | ||
| StL | 12 | ||
| 15-May | 2 | ||
| 16-Jun | 1 | ||
| 24-Jun | 1 | ||
| 17-Jul | 4 | ||
| 16-Aug | 1 | ||
| 18-Aug | 3 | ||
| Isbell | 10 | ||
| Chi | 10 | ||
| 11-May | 2 | ||
| 9-Jun | 1 | ||
| 14-Jul | 4 | ||
| 14-Aug | 3 | ||
| Donovan | 8 | ||
| Det | 8 | ||
| 5-Jun | 3 | ||
| 27-Jun | 1 | ||
| 4-Jul | 2 | ||
| 21-Aug | 2 | ||
| Freeman | 7 | ||
| Bos | 7 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | ||
| 22-Apr | 2 | ||
| 25-Apr | 1 | ||
| 5-Aug | 2 | ||
| 11-Aug | 1 | ||
| Ferris | 7 | ||
| Bos | 7 | ||
| 20-Apr | 2 | ||
| 22-Apr | 2 | ||
| 25-Apr | 2 | ||
| 11-Aug | 1 | ||
| Lush | 6 | ||
| Det | 6 | ||
| 27-Jun | 2 | ||
| 4-Jul | 1 | ||
| 21-Aug | 3 | ||
| Bradley | 6 | ||
| Clev | 6 | ||
| 23-May | 1 | ||
| 26-May | 1 | ||
| 12-Jun | 2 | ||
| 11-Jul | 2 | ||
| Coughlin | 6 | ||
| Wash | 6 | ||
| 8-May | 1 | ||
| 25-Jul | 3 | ||
| 27-Jul | 2 | ||
| Barrett | 6 | ||
| Det | 6 | ||
| 27-Jun | 1 | ||
| 4-Jul | 1 | ||
| 6-Jul | 2 | ||
| 21-Aug | 2 | ||
| Flick | 6 | ||
| Clev | 6 | ||
| 26-May | 2 | ||
| 12-Jun | 2 | ||
| 30-Jun | 1 | ||
| 11-Jul | 1 | ||
| LaChance | 6 | ||
| Bos | 6 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | ||
| 22-Apr | 1 | ||
| 25-Apr | 3 | ||
| 5-Aug | 1 | ||
| Friel | 5 | ||
| StL | 5 | ||
| 15-May | 3 | ||
| 17-Jul | 2 | ||
| Gochnaur | 5 | ||
| Clev | 5 | ||
| 23-May | 2 | ||
| 12-Jun | 2 | ||
| 30-Jun | 1 | ||
| Lee | 5 | ||
| Wash | 5 | ||
| 23-Jul | 1 | ||
| 25-Jul | 2 | ||
| 27-Jul | 1 | ||
| 30-Jul | 1 | ||
| Green | 5 | ||
| Chi | 5 | ||
| 11-May | 1 | ||
| 9-Jun | 1 | ||
| 14-Jul | 1 | ||
| 14-Aug | 2 | ||
| Hickman | 5 | ||
| Clev | 5 | ||
| 26-May | 2 | ||
| 12-Jun | 3 | ||
| Hughes | 5 | ||
| Bos | 5 | ||
| 25-Apr | 3 | ||
| 11-Aug | 2 | ||
| Bernhard | 5 | ||
| Clev | 5 | ||
| 30-Jun | 2 | ||
| 11-Jul | 3 | ||
| Wolfe | 5 | ||
| NY | 5 | ||
| 28-Apr | 2 | ||
| 30-May | 3 | ||
| Martin | 4 | ||
| StL | 4 | ||
| 17-Jul | 3 | ||
| 18-Aug | 1 | ||
| Selbach | 4 | ||
| Wash | 4 | ||
| 1-Jun | 2 | ||
| 23-Jul | 1 | ||
| 27-Jul | 1 | ||
| Wallace | 4 | ||
| StL | 4 | ||
| 15-May | 1 | ||
| 24-Jun | 2 | ||
| 18-Aug | 1 | ||
| Hallman | 4 | ||
| Chi | 4 | ||
| 11-May | 3 | ||
| 9-Jun | 1 | ||
| G Smith | 4 | ||
| Det | 4 | ||
| 27-Jun | 2 | ||
| 4-Jul | 1 | ||
| 6-Jul | 1 | ||
| White | 4 | ||
| Chi | 4 | ||
| 11-May | 3 | ||
| 14-Jul | 1 | ||
| Crawford | 4 | ||
| Det | 4 | ||
| 5-Jun | 1 | ||
| 27-Jun | 1 | ||
| 4-Jul | 1 | ||
| 6-Jul | 1 | ||
| McCormick | 4 | ||
| StL | 1 | ||
| 15-May | 1 | ||
| Wash | 3 | ||
| 23-Jul | 1 | ||
| 27-Jul | 2 | ||
| Williams | 4 | ||
| NY | 4 | ||
| 30-May | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 3 | ||
| Dinneen | 4 | ||
| Bos | 4 | ||
| 22-Apr | 2 | ||
| 5-Aug | 2 | ||
| Ganzel | 3 | ||
| NY | 3 | ||
| 28-Apr | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 2 | ||
| Callahan | 3 | ||
| Chi | 3 | ||
| 14-May | 1 | ||
| 14-Jul | 1 | ||
| 14-Aug | 1 | ||
| Dunkle | 3 | ||
| Wash | 3 | ||
| 25-Jul | 3 | ||
| O'Brien | 3 | ||
| Bos | 3 | ||
| 25-Apr | 1 | ||
| 5-Aug | 2 | ||
| Siever | 3 | ||
| StL | 3 | ||
| 15-May | 2 | ||
| 16-Jun | 1 | ||
| Bay | 3 | ||
| Clev | 3 | ||
| 26-May | 1 | ||
| 12-Jun | 2 | ||
| F Jones | 3 | ||
| Chi | 3 | ||
| 14-Jul | 3 | ||
| DeMontreville | 3 | ||
| Wash | 3 | ||
| 8-May | 3 | ||
| Long | 3 | ||
| Det | 2 | ||
| 27-Jun | 1 | ||
| 21-Aug | 1 | ||
| NY | 1 | ||
| 30-May | 1 | ||
| Conroy | 3 | ||
| NY | 3 | ||
| 28-Apr | 1 | ||
| 30-May | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 1 | ||
| Dougherty | 3 | ||
| Bos | 3 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | ||
| 22-Apr | 2 | ||
| Joss | 3 | ||
| Clev | 3 | ||
| 23-May | 2 | ||
| 12-Jun | 1 | ||
| D Holmes | 3 | ||
| Chi | 3 | ||
| 19-Jun | 1 | ||
| 14-Jul | 2 | ||
| McCarthy | 3 | ||
| Clev | 3 | ||
| 23-May | 1 | ||
| 26-May | 1 | ||
| 11-Jul | 1 | ||
| Wright | 3 | ||
| StL | 3 | ||
| 18-Aug | 3 | ||
| L Tannehill | 3 | ||
| Chi | 3 | ||
| 11-May | 2 | ||
| 14-Jul | 1 | ||
| Carr | 3 | ||
| Det | 3 | ||
| 4-Jul | 2 | ||
| 6-Jul | 1 | ||
| C Stahl | 3 | ||
| Bos | 3 | ||
| 5-Aug | 1 | ||
| 11-Aug | 2 | ||
| Drill | 3 | ||
| Wash | 3 | ||
| 8-May | 1 | ||
| 23-Jul | 2 | ||
| Keeler | 3 | ||
| NY | 3 | ||
| 30-May | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 2 | ||
| Sugden | 3 | ||
| StL | 3 | ||
| 15-May | 1 | ||
| 17-Jul | 1 | ||
| 18-Aug | 1 | ||
| Criger | 2 | ||
| Bos | 2 | ||
| 5-Aug | 2 | ||
| Chesbro | 2 | ||
| NY | 2 | ||
| 1-Aug | 2 | ||
| A Davis | 2 | ||
| NY | 2 | ||
| 30-May | 2 | ||
| Courtney | 2 | ||
| NY | 2 | ||
| 28-Apr | 2 | ||
| Lajoie | 2 | ||
| Clev | 2 | ||
| 12-Jun | 2 | ||
| O'Connor | 2 | ||
| NY | 2 | ||
| 28-Apr | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 1 | ||
| Sudhoff | 2 | ||
| StL | 2 | ||
| 15-May | 1 | ||
| 16-Aug | 1 | ||
| McGuire | 2 | ||
| Det | 2 | ||
| 4-Jul | 1 | ||
| 21-Aug | 1 | ||
| Hemphill | 2 | ||
| StL | 2 | ||
| 15-May | 1 | ||
| 16-Jun | 1 | ||
| McAllister | 2 | ||
| Det | 2 | ||
| 5-Jun | 1 | ||
| 21-Aug | 1 | ||
| Evans | 2 | ||
| StL | 2 | ||
| 17-Jul | 2 | ||
| Carey | 2 | ||
| Wash | 2 | ||
| 8-May | 1 | ||
| 1-Jun | 1 | ||
| Buelow | 2 | ||
| Det | 2 | ||
| 21-Aug | 2 | ||
| Owen | 2 | ||
| Chi | 2 | ||
| 9-Jun | 2 | ||
| Kahoe | 2 | ||
| StL | 2 | ||
| 15-May | 1 | ||
| 24-Jun | 1 | ||
| Wilson | 2 | ||
| Wash | 2 | ||
| 8-May | 2 | ||
| Powell | 2 | ||
| StL | 2 | ||
| 19-May | 2 | ||
| Magoon | 2 | ||
| Chi | 2 | ||
| 19-Jun | 1 | ||
| 14-Jul | 1 | ||
| Dolan | 2 | ||
| Chi | 2 | ||
| 11-May | 2 | ||
| Parent | 2 | ||
| Bos | 2 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | ||
| 5-Aug | 1 | ||
| H McFarland | 1 | ||
| NY | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 1 | ||
| Orth | 1 | ||
| Wash | 1 | ||
| 30-Jul | 1 | ||
| Moran | 1 | ||
| Wash | 1 | ||
| 30-Jul | 1 | ||
| Burkett | 1 | ||
| StL | 1 | ||
| 16-Jun | 1 | ||
| Fultz | 1 | ||
| NY | 1 | ||
| 1-Aug | 1 | ||
| T Daly | 1 | ||
| Chi | 1 | ||
| 9-Jun | 1 | ||
| Townsend | 1 | ||
| Wash | 1 | ||
| 1-Jun | 1 | ||
| Slattery | 1 | ||
| Chi | 1 | ||
| 9-Jun | 1 | ||
| Gessler | 1 | ||
| Det | 1 | ||
| 5-Jun | 1 | ||
| Collins | 1 | ||
| Bos | 1 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | ||
| Robinson | 1 | ||
| Wash | 1 | ||
| 8-May | 1 | ||
| Farrell | 1 | ||
| Bos | 1 | ||
| 25-Apr | 1 | ||
| Kittridge | 1 | ||
| Wash | 1 | ||
| 30-Jul | 1 | ||
| H Smith | 1 | ||
| Det | 1 | ||
| 4-Jun | 1 | ||
| Skopec | 1 | ||
| Det | 1 | ||
| 21-Aug | 1 | ||
| Gleason | 1 | ||
| Bos | 1 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | ||
| Howell | 1 | ||
| NY | 1 | ||
| 30-May | 1 | ||
| Yeager | 1 | ||
| Det | 1 | ||
| 6-Jul | 1 | ||
| Delahanty | 1 | ||
| Wash | 1 | ||
| 1-Jun | 1 | ||
| McFarland | 1 | ||
| NY | 1 | ||
| 30-May | 1 | ||
| Hill | 1 | ||
| StL | 1 | ||
| 18-Aug | 1 | ||
| Patterson | 1 | ||
| Chi | 1 | ||
| 19-Jun | 1 | ||
| Domer | 1 | ||
| Clev | 1 | ||
| 26-May | 1 | ||
| Abbott | 1 | ||
| Clev | 1 | ||
| 30-Jun | 1 | ||
| Winter | 1 | ||
| Bos | 1 | ||
| 20-Apr | 1 | | |
| paper | k 's cited from |
| phi public ledger | 118 |
| ny evening telegram | 31 |
| chicago tribune | 23 |
| detroit free press | 21 |
| cleveland leader | 15 |
| st. louis republic | 10 |
| phil north amer | 10 |
| boston post | 9 |
| wash times | 9 |
| st. l globe dem | 9 |
| wash post | 8 |
| phil even telegram | 7 |
| boston herald | 6 |
| phil record | 5 |
| st. l post dispatch | 5 |
| phil press | 1 |
| st. l chronicle | 1 |
| Grand Total | 288 |
If anyone wants the game-by-game list, please let me know.
That's it for Waddell's 1903 season.
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