Amos Rusie - show and tell

[Archive]

Posted By: Scot York

I purchased an N172 Amos Rusie RC after a long search. This card will stay in my collection. Rusie was a first year rookie major leaguer in 1889 for Indianapolis. I've learned the pitching mound was moved back to current day 60ft. because of him. He's from our town and I would like to learn and see more cards, photos etc... Enjoy!
Special Thanks to Charlie, a man on a rock.

[Archive]

Posted By: Scott T

If he hadn't blown his arm out (and been such an orny ol' cuss), there is a distinct possibility that Roger Clemens would have won seven Amos Rusie awards.

I am (slowly) working on a biography of Rusie. Being an Indiana native myself (now living in Texas), how can you not like "The Hoosier Thunderbolt"?

His cards, sadly, are too expensive for me.


...and as you can see, my writing, is, at best, disjointed and rambling

Scott

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

There are so few cards of him- Newsboy, Old Judge, Mayo- and you already start to hit the wall. That's why they are so expensive.

[Archive]

Posted By: Phil Garry

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Evanov

Fantastic pitcher in the late 19th Century. He won 30 or more games 4 years in a row. He also lost 31 one year!!



Frank

[Archive]

Posted By: Scot

Scott, I'd like to buy/get a copy of Rusies bio when you're finished. Not much written on him that I've found. Great cards and info all!! Thanks!

[Archive]

Posted By: Misunderestimated (Brian H.)

The Hoosier Thunderbolt - The legend is that Rusie's fastball was so frightening (and his control was iffy) that it led to the repositioning of the pitcher's mound further from the plate (where it is today). Big time fastball pitcher -- obviously we will never know if he threw harder than Walter Johnson, Joe Wood, Bob Feller....... Randy Johnson .

He was traded for fellow Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson in 1900 probably the worst trade ever. Matty went on to win 370+ games after the trade and Rusie was 0-1 in the 20th century.

[Archive]

Posted By: Scot

Brian,
Interesting, I agree that was a bad trade, Rusie at the end of his hard throwing career for a fresh Mathewson. Wow!

[Archive]

Posted By: bill

[Archive]

Posted By: Ken W.

Damn, I need one of him! One of my last 5 HOF want listers.
Here is a funny shiny one.



My HOFers:
http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/triwak/

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Wakefield

Hey Phil,

I was going to post a scan of the Rusie I "used to have"... I sold it through Bill Goodwin about a year and a half ago. When I found my scan, its numbers matched yours... so that is the one! You take good care of Amos. He used to be in the first page of my binder, with Delehanty, Clarkson, and Ward.

Frank.

[Archive]

Posted By: Peter Spaeth

The Giants drafted Mathewson and he played for one of their minor league clubs for a season I believe; and Amos Rusie already had retired by 1900 from arm trouble. Was there a Rule 5 draft way back then, this doesn't sound like a "real" trade to me.

[Archive]

Posted By: Phil Garry

Will do, Frank. I am still looking for a Delahanty myself.

[Archive]

Posted By: Trevor Hocking

Here's my fav of Rusie.

[Archive]

Posted By: David Smith

Here is the only Rusie I own.

David

[Archive]

Posted By: Scot

Nice cabinet Trevor, one of my favorites as well.

David, with your N172 Rusie we have four of the six known Indianapolis variations shown here.

Why do the two N172 Amos Rusie "New York" variations have such a high book value? They book nearly 5X more.

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Evanov

"The Giants drafted Mathewson and he played for one of their minor league clubs for a season I believe; and Amos Rusie already had retired by 1900 from arm trouble. Was there a Rule 5 draft way back then, this doesn't sound like a "real" trade to me."



Interesting story Peter: The NY Giants bought Matty from Norfolk for $1500 in 1900. Christy lost his first three starts in NY and was returned to the minors for the same $1500. At Norfolk Matty was 21-2 and since he had played in the majors he was eligible for the draft after the season. John Brush who owned the Reds [and a part of the Giants too!] drafted him for $100, then traded him back to the Giants for Rusie who hadn't pitched in three years! Norfolk lost $1400 on the deal! Ah, the days of "Syndicate Baseball".



Frank

[Archive]

Posted By: Misunderestimated (Brian H.)

I think Brush made out OK. As I recall he bought the Giants soon thereafter so there may have been some serious self-dealing in this trade. ALso, I wonder if Brush (or Friedman the guy who owned the Giants and then sold to Brush) had any ownership interest in Norfolk so that they didn't mind "parking" Matty there and taking an apparent loss.

[Archive]

Posted By: RC

Ah..... the plot thickens. Sounds like Scott's book could have a few interesting twists if some of these "behind the scenes" activities are found to be somewhat self-serving.

A little investigative work may be in store.

RC

[Archive]

Posted By: Paul

I sure could use some help from the Board on this one. I got this awhile ago from a fellow board member. It's cabinet style, but about the size of a postcard. The back says Amos Rusie in pencil. It was obtained from a scrapbook that had turn of the century Reds items. Our resident photography expert examined it and concluded it was made using a mass-production technique used at the turn of the century.

I have desperately tried to confirm that this is in fact Rusie from his very short stint with the Reds. I asked the HOF for any pictures of Rusie with the Reds. They have none. I did find one picture of Rusie in a book that I have and the face looks similar to this photo. Any thoughts?

[Archive]

Posted By: Scot

Paul,
That's a great piece no matter who it is. Could very well be Rusie.
Scott, I see a baseball best seller brewing (scandal,victim,2-HOFers)

[Archive]

Posted By: Ken W.

Paul,

Looks like Amos to me. If you ever want to part with it, because of the uncertainty, I might be willing to take a chance!

Ken

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Paul- Rusie played briefly with Cincinnati in 1901.

According to Mark Okkonen's Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century, Cincinnati wore that same style uniform between 1901-04. I also see a striking resemblance in the face, particularly the nose.

My guess is your photograph is in fact Amos Rusie. And that is quite a score at that!

[Archive]

Posted By: Paul

Thanks everyone.