Rube Waddell was one of the most fascinating characters of the Deadball Era, or any era for that matter. In January 1903 during the offseason Waddell took a job as a player/coach for Rollins College in Ormond, Florida. He brought in fellow Philadelphia Athletics’ catcher Osee Schrecongost because the colllege catcher couldn’t handle Waddell’s stuff.

The “W.R.M. Ormond” is a clue to the photos origins. John Thorn did the research to establish that this indicates Walter R. Merryman who was a professional photographer from Haverhill, Massachusetts who was working during the winter as a photographer for the Hotel Ormond in Florida. It was there that Merryman captured Waddell warming up. One of the better images of the Deadball Era.

Here is a snippet from the January 1903 issue of the Sand Spur, the magazine of Rollins College. In it Waddell discusses his career and plans for 1903 with the Athletics.