A Rube in Hollywood?
INDIANAPOLIS — Always captivated by the legacy of Rube Waddell, freelance writer Dan O'Brien now hopes to capture the left-hander's legend on the silver screen.
O'Brien, a former sports producer at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh who now lives near Indianapolis, wrote a screenplay titled "Rube" that recently placed third out of 1,986 entries in Cherub Productions' Free Screenplay Contest.
"I've always wanted to do a screenplay and I've always been fascinated by Rube Waddell," O'Brien said. "He's one of the true legends of baseball, born on Friday the 13th, died on April Fool's Day.
"The contest was free, so I had nothing to lose. I never expected to get anything out of it, honestly."
O'Brien is a longtime member of the Society of American Baseball Research.
Waddell, who died in 1914 at age 37, was born in Bradford and spent his teenage years in Prospect, where his reputation as a baseball talent began to grow. He pitched for numerous school and semipro baseball teams in the Butler County area.
"My screenplay is basically about his years with (50-year Philadelphia A's manager) Connie Mack and Rube's relationship with him," O'Brien said.
Waddell had 50 shutouts in 10 professional seasons and led the American League in strikeouts each year from 1902-07. In his best season in 1905, Waddell was 27-10 with a 1.48 ERA. His major league record was 193-143 with a 2.16 ERA.
Waddell died from pneumonia and tuberculosis after standing in icy water while helping to stack sandbags as floodwaters threatened a small Kentucky town.
"His story is a natural," O'Brien said. "It would make an incredible film. But when I wrote and submitted the screenplay, I had no expectations."When I got word it made the final 50, I was thrilled. Then it made the final 10, which were all given to producers and directors for evaluation. I thought it would end there."When I got the notice three weeks ago that it made the final seven ... I thought, 'Now I want to win,'" he added.While he didn't win, O'Brien has his screenplay in the hands of potential producers. His goal now is to have someone to turn it into a motion picture.Waddell's many quirks included an insatiable interest in fire engines. Legend has it he would miss a start or leave the ballpark to pursue a fire truck heading down the street.During exhibition games, he would direct his teammates to leave the field, then proceed to strike out the side. He shot marbles with children, was married three times and had numerous alcohol-related incidents.But Waddell won 96 games in his first four years with the Athletics. He and Cy Young once pitched complete games in a 20-inning affair won by Waddell, 4-2."He was a character who tested a manager's patience, to be sure, but Connie Mack loved the guy, always defended him," O'Brien said.Mack summed up Waddell's career by saying: "He was the greatest pitcher in the game, and although widely known for his eccentricities, was more sinned against than sinner."O'Brien's screenplay is 107 pages."The general rule is one minute per page," he said. "I could have gone on forever. It's on the desk of a major producer right now."Whether it (the film) is ever done, doing all the research, putting the thing together was well worth it. Rube Waddell led a fascinating life."He also is the co-author of books about Mark May of the Washington Redskins and the University of Missouri's football history.
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