Background
He was born in Crabapple, Georgia.
He was born in Crabapple, Georgia.
Rucker threw a no-hitter against the Boston Doves on September 5, 1908. He led the National League in complete games (27), innings pitched (3201), and shutouts (6) in 1910. He holds the Brooklyn Dodgers record for the most shutouts in the National League (38).
Most strikeouts (16) in a regulation nine-inning game, and the most 1-0 shutouts (3) in a 154-game season.
He became strictly a knuckleball pitcher when his speed declined. After his baseball career, Rucker went on to a successful business career, and served as mayor of Roswell from 1935 to 1936, and as the city"s water commissioner after his mayoral term.
Rucker was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1967.