Arthur “Bugs” Raymond was one of the most talented pitchers to end his career with a sub .500 (45-57) record. Known more for his drinking problems and erratic behavior, Raymond was dead by 30. John McGraw, the only manager who even for a short time, managed to get the best out Raymond, told sportswriter Grantland Rice that he had the best motion he’d ever seen and “Even half sober Raymond would have been one of the greatest.” Rube Waddell, whose eccentricities were the standard by which all players of his era were judged, weighed in about Raymond, saying about Bugs something he could have said about himself: “It’s a shame that fellow doesn’t take care of himself. He would be a wonder if he would just keep in condition and pay strict attention to business.” While Waddell was fascinated with fire and on many occasions assisted fire fighters (although there is no evidence supporting the long-held myth that Waddell left the mound during a game to follow a fire wagon), Raymond was enamored of trains. According to the Hall of Fame sportswriter Hugh Fullerton III Raymond loved trains: “The moment he enters a sleeping car he begins to take possession of the train and it isn’t long until he’s captured it. Usually he begins by borrowing a blue coat with brass buttons and a uniform cap from some trainman or porter who admires baseball players, and arrayed in these he saunters through the train trying to collect fares, issuing orders and generally enjoying himself.” Fullerton wrote about a 1907 road trip: “(R)ushing through the darkness in two sections. The St. Louis Cardinals were traveling in the rear car of the first section and the other section was following five minutes behind. Suddenly there was a jarring of the brakes, the shrilling of air, the jar of sudden stoppage, and the second section jolted to a sudden standstill shaking sleepers out of their berths and awaking everybody.” According to Fullerton the sudden stoppage and near accident of the following train was explained in the report issued several days later by the railroad: “Raymond, who was looking for amusement, had stationed himself on the rear platform of the first section and amused himself touching off the red flare which is carried for use as a warning s and danger signals…the second section saw the warning and stopped.”
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 01:39:22 +0000
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