There were probably 100,000 guys in America nicknamed "Rube" back then, it was a derogatory yet somewhat socially acceptable term for "country boy" at the time. Similar in some ways to "redneck" or something today but society has changed in the way people address each other so informally or impolitely(unless you are a rapper). It had nothing to do with baseball. There could be "rubes" as a group as well (pluralized).
On the other end of the spectrum, "Heinie" was a nickname if your first name was Henry, it has no negative connotations that I know of.
The other really popular nickname not mentioned is "Deacon". That was just for someone who either abstained from drinking/smoking/swearing or all of them for religious reasons which REALLY stood out in the game of baseball back then. There were at least 50 "Deacons" who played Baseball before WW2 including Phillippe, Everett Scott etc.
Rhys
Last edited by prewarsports; 01-25-2012 at 11:22 AM.
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