Biography

John J. McGraw says: “Rusie had tremendous speed and a wonderful curve. He could throw a curve ball almost as fast as his regular fast one. Not only that, but he had the nerve and confidence to whip his curve over the plate when in a hole. As a rule, pitchers do not dare try a curve when the count is two strikes and three balls. They've got to get the ball over, and to be sure they usually use their fast one. Rusie had no such misgivings. If in such a hole he would deliberately pitch his curve ball with every ounce of steam he could put on it. Usually he stood batters on their ears by that kind of pitching. Rusie, by the way, is now assistant watchman at the Polo Grounds. Dan Brouthers-is the other watch man. Often we get together and talk over old times.”

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