"And from that day on, they nicknamed me 'Rube.'
"I had a wonderful season that year with Indianapolis. I pitched forty-seven complete games, won twenty-eight of them, led the league in most strikeouts, least hits, most innings pitched, and everything. Occasionally what I'd do would be reported in the Cleveland papers, and friends of mine would tell me that they'd pass by the house and see Dad sitting on the porch.
"'Well, Fred,' they'd say—that was Dad's name, by the way, Fred—'Did you see what your son Rube did yesterday?'
"'Who are you talking about?' he'd say. 'Rube who?'
"'Your son—Richard,' they would answer.
"'I told him that baseball was no good,' my dad would reply. 'Now they've even gone and changed his name!'
"Anyway, I had a terrific year with Indianapolis, like I said. Late in the season we went into Columbus, Ohio, and Charlie Carr came up to me before the game.
"'Rube,' he said, 'there are going to be an awful lot of celebrities here at the game today. The American and National Leagues both have an off-day, and they're all coming to see you pitch. If you pitch a good game I may be able to sell you before the night is out.'
"'For how much?' I wanted to know.
"'I don't know,' he said. 'But a lot. It depends on what kind of game you pitch.'