There was no end to the stories told about Rube Waddell—some were even true.
This one, from 1905, was told by umpire Charles King, who worked in the American League in 1904. King—identified as “Steve” King by The Pittsburgh Press, said:
Rube
“One day Rube came to me and asked me to loan him my umpire’s togs and indicator. I am about 5 feet 9 inches, and you can imagine about how my clothes would fit the big Waddell.”
King said Waddell claimed he wanted to play a trick on his teammates and would return the items before that afternoon’s game.
“That was the last seen of Waddell in Philadelphia for three days. He had been slated to pitch the afternoon that he borrowed my clothes; Connie Mack was worried and mad. As for me, I had to umpire in civilian garb.
“While sitting around the hotel on the third night following Waddell’s disappearance, who should come stalking into the hotel but the missing Rube. He was all smiles.
“’Where’ve you been, Rube?’ Shouted several of the players in chorus.
“’Oh, up the country a little ways, where I had been invited to umpire a game,’ answered Rube. ‘I umpired for a couple of innings, pitched two innings, covered first base for one round, and then went up in the grandstand, took away the scorekeeper’s book and acted as official scorer for the remainder of the game.’”
Baseball History Daily 
One Response to “Another Rube Story”