Bill Rumler

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Bill Rumler

| image = Bill Rumler 1929 Hollywood.jpg

| position = Catcher / Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date|1891|3|27}}

| birth_place = Milford, Nebraska

| death_date = {{death date and age|1966|5|26|1891|3|27}}

| death_place = Lincoln, Nebraska

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 4

| debutyear = 1914

| debutteam = St. Louis Browns

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 27

| finalyear = 1917

| finalteam = St. Louis Browns

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .251

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 1

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 32

| teams =

St. Louis Browns ({{mlby|1914}}, {{mlby|1916}}–{{mlby|1917}})

}}

William George Rumler (March 27, 1891 – May 26, 1966), known as James Rumler during the 1918 season, and Red Moore during the 1921 season, was a professional baseball player, whose career spanned 19 seasons, three of which were spent in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the St. Louis Browns (1914, 1916–17). He played catcher, and outfielder. Over his major league career, Rumler compiled a combined batting average of .251 with 15 runs scored, 43 hits, seven doubles, four triples, one home run, and 32 runs batted in (RBIs) in 139 games played. After making his MLB debut in 1914, he spent the next season in the minor leagues. He returned to the majors in 1916, and again for a final time in 1917.

After his MLB career was over, Rumler joined the minor league Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). In 1920, during his second season with the team, Rumler was given a five-year suspension from the PCL after being accused of throwing games for gamblers. He played with several outlaw leagues after he was suspended. He returned to the PCL in 1929 as a member of the Hollywood Stars. In 1932, he was hired as a player-manager for the Lincoln Links. He has a combined career minor league batting average of .342 with 1,037 hits in 826 games played. Rumler batted and threw right-handed. During his career, he stood at {{convert|6|ft|1|in|cm}}, and weighed {{convert|190|lb|kg}}.

Early life

Rumler was born on March 27, 1891, in Milford, Nebraska, to Charles, and Sophia Rumler of Germany, and Russia, respectively.{{cite web|title=1910 United States Census|work=U.S. Census Bureau|publisher=U.S. Federal Government|year=1910|title-link=1910 United States Census}} Bill Rumler had two brothers and a sister. Their father worked as a farmer. At the age of 17, Bill Rumler was working on his father's farm.

Professional career

=Early career, and St. Louis Browns (1913–17)=

In 1913, Rumler began his professional baseball debut after signing with the minor league Great Bend Millers of the Class-D Kansas State League. With Great Bend, he batted .314 with 76 hits in 61 games played. Late in the season, Rumler was sold to the Burlington Pathfinders of the Class-D Central Association.{{cite news|title=Waterloo Fans Think They Will Lose Tuttle|newspaper=The Evening Gazette|date=18 September 1913|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa|page=9}} For the Pathfinders, Rumler batted .350 with 49 hits in 37 games played. After the season, he was drafted by the Major League Baseball (MLB) St. Louis Browns in the 1913 rule 5 draft.{{cite news|title=Few From Illinois|newspaper=The Daily Review|date=16 September 1913|location=Decatur, Illinois|page=5}} He joined the Browns for spring training in 1914.{{cite news|title=St. Louis|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=14 April 1914|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=7}} Rumler made his MLB debut on May 4, 1914, against the Chicago White Sox.{{cite news|title=Browns 1, White Sox 0|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=5 May 1914|page=8}} On June 22, in a game against the Philadelphia Athletics, Rumler collided with the fence at Sportsman's Park, and was knocked unconscious.{{cite news|title=Athletics 3, Browns 0|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=23 June 1914|page=6}} In his first season in the majors, Rumler batted .174 with two runs scored, eight hits, one double, six runs batted in (RBIs), and two stolen bases in 34 games played. Defensively, he played 10 games at catcher, and six games in the outfield.

File:William Rumler 1917 baseball card.png

On June 30, 1914, the St. Louis Browns sold Rumler to the Montgomery Rebels of the Class-A Southern Association.{{cite news|title=Rumler To Report To Montgomery Club|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=1 July 1914|page=7}} However, he never made an appearance with the Rebels.{{cite web|title=1914 Montgomery Rebels|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=83ed99b1|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=19 May 2011}} In December 1914, Rumler was signed by the Atlanta Crackers of the Class-A Southern Association.{{cite news|title=Bill Rumler|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=4 December 1914|page=11}} At the start of the 1915 season, Crackers manager William Smith stated that he was going to use Rumler primarily as an outfielder.{{cite news|title=Sid Smith Will Catch In Today's Game; Rumler In Outfield for Season|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=26 April 1915|page=2}} On the season, he batted .253 with 93 hits, 12 doubles, nine triples, and six home runs in 122 games played. His home run total tied him for fourth in the Southern Association with Tim Hendryx, and Red McDermott.{{cite web|title=1915 Southern Association Batting Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=468e186a&sort_by=HR|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=19 May 2011}} Rumler started the 1916 season with the Little Rock Travelers of the Class-A Southern Association. He batted .337 with 84 hits, 10 doubles, five triples, and eight home runs in 75 games played. Rumler led the league in slugging percentage (.514); and was second in home runs, and batting average.{{cite web|title=1916 Southern Association Batting Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=59b4a1b9&sort_by=HR|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=19 May 2011}}

In late-July 1916, Rumler was sold by the minor league Little Rock Travelers to the St. Louis Browns.{{cite news|title=Langer Is Gotham Swims|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/382136851.html?dids=382136851:382136851&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+26%2C+1916&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=LANGER+IN+GOTHAM+SWIMS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106180806/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/382136851.html?dids=382136851:382136851&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+26,+1916&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=LANGER+IN+GOTHAM+SWIMS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2012|accessdate=19 May 2011|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune (subscription required)|date=26 July 1916|page=10}} On the season with the Browns, he batted .324 with six runs scored, 12 hits, three doubles, and 10 RBIs in 27 games played. That season, Rumler set a career high in MLB batting average. He played all of his nine defensive games at the catcher position. After the season, Rumler participated in a charity game with semi-professional baseball players in Lincoln, Nebraska.{{cite news|title=Big Leaguers To Play Ball Today|newspaper=The Lincoln Daily Star|date=15 October 1916|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|page=15}}

In 1917, Rumler re-joined the St. Louis Browns. It was his first, and only full MLB season. On April 20, Rumler drove in the winnings runs in the top of the ninth inning during a game against the Cleveland Indians.{{cite news|title=Browns Make Triple Play|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|date=1 May 1917|page=14}} Through July 3, Rumler had the third-highest batting average in the American League, behind Earl Hamilton, and Babe Ruth.{{cite news|title=American League Averages|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=1 July 1917 |page=37}} In July, Rumler stated that he was considering joining the United States military so he could fight in World War I.{{cite news|title=Sisler, Youthful Batter, Is Near To In American|newspaper=Eau Claire Leader|date=18 July 1917|location=Eau Claire, Wisconsin|page=2}} He hit his first, and only MLB home run on September 21, against New York Yankees pitcher George Mogridge.{{cite web|title=William Rumler Career Home Runs|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=rumlewi01&t=b|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=19 May 2011}} His final game came on September 27. With St. Louis that year, he batted .261 with seven runs scored, 23 hits, three doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBIs, and two stolen bases in 78 games played. During the season, Rumler registered 71 pinch-hit at-bats, which was an MLB record at the time.{{cite book|last=Votano|first=Paul|title=Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=0-7864-1588-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cKIvn91tVMAC&q=Bill+Rumler|accessdate=19 May 2011|page=48}}

=World War I, return, and suspension (1918–1920)=

In 1918, Rumler was sold by the St. Louis Browns to the minor league Columbus Senators of the Double-A American Association.{{cite news|title=Baseball Stories|newspaper=Kingston Daily Freeman|date=8 July 1918|location=Kingston, New York|page=12}} That year, he was known as "James" Rumler.{{cite web|title=James Rumler Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com}} He played just seven games with Columbus, who was managed by Joe Tinker.{{cite web|title=1918 Columbus Senators|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=c0f69072|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=20 May 2011}} In those games, he batted .125 with two hits in 16 at-bats. On May 23, Rumler was drafted into the United States military to fight in World War I.{{cite news|title=[Untitled]|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=23 May 1918|agency=Associated Press|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=8}} He attained the rank of sergeant with the Army's 5th Company, 163rd Depot Brigade, in Iowa at Camp Dodge, mostly playing baseball. A broken leg sustained during a game had not healed by the end of the war, and when Rumler was discharged in December he had yet to see action oversees.{{cite web |last1=Bohn |first1=Terry |title=William Rumler |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/william-rumler/ |website=SABR Baseball Biography Project |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=28 August 2021}}

After World War I, Rumler signed with the minor league Salt Lake City Bees of the Double-A Pacific Coast League (PCL).{{cite news|title=Rumler Is Talk of Salt Lake Camp|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=15 March 1919|location=Oakland, California|page=6}} During spring training that season, the Oakland Tribune wrote that Rumler was "one of the hardest hitters in the Bees camp", and that "if he keeps up the clip throughout the season he will be right up among the leading batters [in the PCL]". He won a starting job with the Salt Lake club out of spring training.{{cite news|title=Oaks Stay In North to Play the Beavers|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=28 April 1919|location=Oakland, California|page=10}} On the season, he batted .362 with 214 hits, 42 doubles, 17 triples, and 17 home runs in 140 games played. He led the league in batting average, doubles; was second in home runs; and third in triples.{{cite web|title=1919 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=61ea4ea8&sort_by=3B|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=20 May 2011}}{{cite news|title=Bill Rumler Is Officially Crowned As Batting King of Pacific Coast League|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=22 November 1919|location=Oakland, California|page=12}} In January 1920, the St. Louis Browns, Rumler's former team, attempted to make a deal with the Salt Lake City Bees for him.{{cite news|title=St. Louis Browns Seek Bill Rumler|newspaper=New Castle News|date=31 January 1920|location=New Castle, Pennsylvania|page=10}} However, the Browns did not offer the players that Salt Lake wanted, and the deal fell apart. Rumler injured his leg during spring training in 1920.{{cite news|title=Training Camp Gossip|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=19 March 1920|location=Oakland, California|page=21}} On April 7, Rumler hit the first home run in the PCL by any batter in the 1920 season.{{cite news|title=The Coast League|newspaper=Modesto Evening News|date=7 April 1920|location=Modesto, California|page=7}} On July 24, in a game against the Seattle Rainiers, he hit two home runs in the same game.{{cite news|title=Rumler, Zamloch Hit Two Home Runs Each|date=25 June 1920|location=Oakland, California|page=15}}

File:Babe Borton 1913.jpg

In August 1920, Babe Borton, a first baseman for the Vernon Tigers, came forward and claimed the Vernon club paid players from the Salt Lake City Bees to throw the 1919 PCL pennant series.{{cite news|title=Borton Charges Vernon Bought Coast League Pennant|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=11 August 1920|location=Oakland, California|page=9}} According to Borton, Vernon manager Bill Essick had asked him if he could get any Salt Lake players to throw the pennant game. Borton stated that he got four players from the Salt Lake club, Rumler being one of them, to agree to throw games so that Vernon could win the PCL pennant. Broton claimed that he paid Rumler US$200. Rumler admitted to taking Borton's money, but claimed it was not a bribe, but a friendly bet on which team would win the series.{{cite news|title=What's Doing In the League of Sports?|newspaper=The Evening News|date=12 August 1920|location=San Jose, California|page=9}} On August 13, executives from the Salt Lake club cleared Rumler of any wrongdoing.{{cite news|title=Rumler Is Cleared|newspaper=San Antonio Light|date=13 August 1920|location=San Antonio, Texas|page=14}} On August 17, Rumler was suspended indefinably by PCL executives.{{cite news|title=Rumler Suspended In Coast League|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=17 August 1920 |page=10}} It was later announced that the suspension meant Rumler would be prohibited from playing in organized baseball for five years.{{cite news|title=Rumler Might As Well Quit As Ball Player|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=31 August 1920|location=Oakland, California|page=14}} Rumler batted .348 with 185 hits, 37 doubles, 12 triples, and 23 home runs in 128 games played before his suspension.

In September 1920, it was announced that PCL team presidents would meet and decide if Rumler should be re-instated.{{cite news|title=Rumor Pot Boils As Moguls Gather For Rumler Talk|newspaper=The Deseret News|date=20 September 1920|location=Salt Lake City|page=8}} The president of the Pacific Coast League at the time, William H. McCarthy, stated that if Rumler, who he believed was guilty of throwing the pennant games, was allowed to continue to play in the PCL, he would resign his post as league president. Rumler threatened to take legal action against the PCL.{{cite book|last=Ginsburg|first=Daniel E.|title=The Fix Is in: A History of Baseball Gambling and Game Fixing Scandals|year=2003|publisher=McFarland & Co.|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=0-7864-1920-2|page=270}} Every team president voted against the reinstatement of Rumler, upholding league president McCarthy's five-year ban.{{cite news|title=What's Doing In the League of Sport?|newspaper=The Evening News|date=1 October 1920|location=San Jose, California|page=5}}

Rumler was brought before a Los Angeles County grand jury in November 1920 on criminal conspiracy charges.{{cite news|title=Rumler, Muligan To Be Called On Stand|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=1 November 1920|location=Oakland, California|page=17}} The grand jury handed down an indictment on Rumler.{{cite news|title=Rumler Will Come West To Face Indictment|newspaper=Ogden Standard Examiner|date=12 December 1920|location=Ogden, Utah|page=12}} He was eventually cleared on all charges.{{cite news|title=Rumler Suspension Lifted By Farrell|newspaper=Port Arthur News|date=10 December 1928|location=Port Arthur, Texas|page=7}} In January 1921, the National Association of Minor Leagues adopted a resolution banning Rumler, Maggert, Borton, and Gene Dale from organized minor league baseball, backing up the PCL's decision.{{cite news|title=Rumler, Dale, And Others Canned|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|date=13 January 1921|page=10}}{{cite web|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/69ceccb1|title=Gene Dale|work=Society for American Baseball Research|first=Bill|last=Lamb|accessdate=January 10, 2013}}

=Outlaw leagues, and return to organized baseball (1921–1932)=

File:Bill Rumler Salt Lake.jpg until 1929, when his ban was lifted.]]

In 1921, Rumler went under the name Red Moore, and played with the Minot Minoters, who represented Minot, North Dakota.{{cite news|title=Moore Succeeds Hester At Minot|newspaper=The Bismarck Tribune|date=15 July 1921|location=Bismarck, North Dakota|page=8}} Minot was an outlaw baseball team. On July 15, Rumler was appointed manager of the Minot club. The Bismarck Tribune called Rumler Minot's "big home run hitter and catcher".{{cite news|title=Moore Leads Team|newspaper=The Bismarck Tribune|date=22 July 1921|location=Bismarck, North Dakota|page=2}} At the end of the season, it was rumored that Rumler was going to be able to return to the PCL Salt Lake City Bees.{{cite news|title=Bill Rumler, Ralph Stoud To Join Bees Next Year|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=24 November 1921|location=Oakland, California|page=18}} However, in 1922, Rumler joined the outlaw Hibbing, Minnesota Minnesota Steel League team.{{cite news|title=Niles Performs In Nifty Style|newspaper=Ogden Standard Examiner|date=28 July 1922|location=Ogden, Utah|page=9}} He joined the Canton Terminals, who represented Canton, Ohio, in 1923.{{cite news|title=Diamond Dust|newspaper=Evening Tribune-Times|date=23 April 1923|location=Hornell, New York|page=8}} He re-signed with the Canton club in 1924.{{cite news|title=Seitz Will Be Back|newspaper=The Zanesville Signal|date=13 August 1924|location=Zanesville, Ohio|page=8}}

In 1925, Rumler signed with the Kenosha Twin Sixies, who represented Kenosha, Wisconsin.{{cite news|title=Seward Notes|newspaper=The Lincoln Star|date=25 October 1925|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|page=4}} He primarily played center field for the Twins Sixies that year.{{cite news|title=Is A Favorite|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=19 September 1925|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=7}} On the season, he hit eight home runs.{{cite news|title=Chairmakers Ready For First Local Contests On Local Diamond|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=7 May 1926|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=10}} In January 1926, Rumler announced that he wanted to re-sign with the Kenosha club.{{cite news|title=Bill Rumler May Be Back With Kenosha Next Season|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=15 January 1926|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=6}} He eventually made it official when he re-signed with the Twin Sixies, and returned to his spot in center field.{{cite news|title=Twin Sixies And Fairies To Have Training Trip|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=20 March 1926|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=11}} In 1927, Rumler again played for the Twin Sixies.{{cite news|title=Kenosha And Chairs To Fight Out On Monday At The Sheboygan Park|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|date=28 May 1927|location=Sheboygan, Wisconsin|page=12}} In April 1928, Rumler was hired to manage to the Milford, Nebraska, team.{{cite news|title=Rumler, Browns Catcher, To Manage Milford Club|newspaper=The Evening State Journal|date=13 April 1928|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|page=13}}

On December 4, 1928, Rumler's suspension from organized baseball was lifted, and he signed with the Hollywood Stars of the PCL. He attended spring training with the Stars that season.{{cite news|title=Oscar Vitt Believes Hollywood Club Stronger Than Last Season|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=28 January 1929|location=Oakland, California|page=12}} He made the club at the start of the regular season.{{cite news|title=Res Increase League As Oaks Lose 10-3|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=11 May 1929|location=Oakland, California|page=10}} In late-May, he suffered an injury to his shoulder, which healed by mid-June.{{cite news|title=Injury Was Help|newspaper=Syracuse Herald|date=13 June 1929|location=Syracuse, New York|page=29}} During the fourth game of the 1929 PCL pennant series against the Mission Reds, Rumler was struck in the head by a pitch, and knocked unconscious.{{cite news|title=Stars Capture Fourth Battle|newspaper=Ogden Standard Examiner|date=12 October 1929|location=Ogden, Utah|page=10}} He regained consciousness that night in the hospital. Rumler was released from the hospital in time for the deciding fifth game, which the Stars won due to an eight inning come-back led by Rumler.{{cite news|title=Vitt's Stars Trim Reds To Win Flag|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=14 October 1929|location=Oakland, California|page=14}} On the season, he batted .386 with 194 hits, 39 doubles, three triples, and 26 home runs in 140 games played. He was third in the PCL in batting average.{{cite web|title=1929 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=43c7fba0|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=21 May 2011}}

Rumler re-signed with the Hollywood Stars in 1930.{{cite news|title=Hollywood Is Team To Bead In P.C.L.|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=24 February 1930|location=Oakland, California|page=13}} In April, while on a train going to Oakland, California, Rumler had a nightmare, which caused him to kick his foot through the Pullman's window.{{cite news|title=Bill Rumler's Bad Dream|newspaper=The Lincoln Star|date=9 April 1930|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|page=17}} After the incident, he had to sit out for a week while the lacerations on his foot and leg. On June 18, during a game against the Mission Reds, Rumler hit a game-winning home run.{{cite news|title=Home Run Breaks Four To Four Tie|newspaper=Nevada State Journal|date=19 June 1930|location=Reno, Nevada|page=8}} He suffered another injury in September.{{cite news|title=C.L. Clubs In Final Flag Drive|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=2 September 1930|location=Oakland, California|page=33}} With the Stars that year, Rumler batted .353 with 122 hits, 23 doubles, three triples, and 14 home runs.

On May 6, 1931, Rumler signed with the Denver Bears of the Class-A Western League.{{cite news|title=Denver Signs Rumler|newspaper=Dunkirk Evening Observer|date=6 May 1931|location=Dunkirk, New York|page=17}} With the Bears, he batted .237 with 14 hits, one double, and one triple in 16 games played. In August, he signed with the Canadian-American Clowns, a travel team.{{cite news|title=House Of David Headliner Saturday|newspaper=Ogden Standard Examiner|date=2 August 1931|location=Ogden, Utah|page=8}} As a member of the Clowns, he played a game against the House of David, a Negro league baseball team who represented Ogden, Utah.{{cite news|title=Clowns Meet Colored Team at Ogdon Stadium|newspaper=Ogden Standard Examiner|date=11 August 1931|location=Ogden, Utah|page=10}} His last season in professional baseball would come in 1932, as the player-manager for the Lincoln Links of the Class-D Nebraska State League. With Lincoln, he batted .340 with 16 hits, five doubles, and one triple in 17 games played. He was succeeded as manager of the club by Bob Sanguinet.{{cite web|title=1932 Lincoln Links|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=5d5ed901|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=21 May 2011}}

Later life

In 1930, Rumler lived with his parents on their farm in Milford, Nebraska.{{cite web|title=1930 United States Census|work=U.S. Census Bureau|publisher=U.S. Federal Government|year=1930|title-link=1930 United States Census}} His last residence was in Milford.{{cite web|title=Social Security Death Index|work=Social Security Administration|publisher=U.S. Federal Government}} Rumler died on May 26, 1966, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was buried at Blue Mound Cemetery in Milford.

References

;General references

{{cite web|title=William Rumler Statistics and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rumlewi01.shtml|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=21 May 2011}}
{{cite web|title=William Rumler Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rumler002wil|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=21 May 2011}}

;Inline citations