Bill Rumler's Zeenut cards

[jerseygary]

Here's a brief run-down from memory:

The Vernon (small community just outside the LA city limits) Tigers were the powerhouse of the PCL, winning the pennant in 17-18-19. Like the White Sox scandal, gamblers were behind the scenes pulling the strings and they used Vernon's first baseman Babe Borton to approach and bribe players from the Salt Lake City Bees to go easy on the Tigers so they could clinch the pennant. Bees players Jean Dale (pitcher), Harl Maggert (outfielder) and Bill Rumler (outfielder) were the players implicated as taking the dirty money. Apparently Borton was pretty sloppy about the bribes and the whole thing was quickly uncovered. Borton, Maggert and Dale were thrown out of organized ball for ever and Rumler, who totally denied everything, was suspended for 8 years.

That's off the top of my head, there may have been more players thrown out but I'm not sure. The whole thing gave West Coast ball a bad name especially when the Black Sox scandal broke and it was discovered that half of the dirty Sox had West Coast connections - McMullin, Gandill, Risberg and Williams.

[Jacklitsch]

Some of the "bad boys" zeenuts. Don't recall hearing about Dale.

1919 Babe Borton


1916 Maggert


1917 Maggert


No cards for Maggert in 1918 or 1919

1920 Maggert

[rhettyeakley]

These two were also banned as well at around the same time...
Tom Seaton:

Luther "Casey" Smith:

FYI: When I was looking at the cards I looked closely at Smith's 1920 Zeenut card and thought to myself "That guy has to be Native American" and after a little research it is confirmed that Luther "Casey" Smith was in fact Native American. So, thanks to this thread I learned something totally new about the cards I own. Great thread.

[jerseygary]

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread, plus the ones who sent private emails as well. The Zeenut cards and a few unpublished photos lent to me by a collector helped me get a good look at what Rumler looked like.

Here is my drawing of "Ole Bill" Rumler of the Hollywood Sheiks taking his position in the outfield at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, 1929. This drawing will accompany a story that will be in an upcoming issue of "21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball" that will focus on Southern California ballplayers and lore.

[Jacklitsch]

Back to the 1929 Zeenut:

[jerseygary]

Thanks again to everyone who posted their Rumler cards for me to see. Who ever's interested in the story I wrote about Ole Bill and his exile and redemption in the PCL can read it right here: BILL RUMLER

[maleesh]

For those who would like more information on Bill Rumler, Sports Collectors Digest did a great article on him a few years ago. The issue is Sept 12, 1983, Vol. 20, No.38, 67th issue. I'm his grand niece and provided much of the information contained in the article. As an aside, Bill went onto coach a Lincoln NE minor league team, then onto Milford NE to be police and fire chief.

[HercDriver]

Gary --

That's an awesome card you drew! I have enough problems getting a stickman right when I play my kid in Hangman, so I don't know how you do it...

Take Care,
Geno

[Bob Lemke]

Originally Posted by maleesh

For those who would like more information on Bill Rumler, Sports Collectors Digest did a great article on him a few years ago. The issue is Sept 12, 1983, Vol. 20, No.38, 67th issue. I'm his grand niece and provided much of the information contained in the article. As an aside, Bill went onto coach a Lincoln NE minor league team, then onto Milford NE to be police and fire chief.

I still remember my visit to Lincoln and Milford where you so generously shared some photos, family lore, etc. Hard to believe it was 20 years ago.

It is too bad those old issues of Sports Collectors Digest have never been scanned so that articles would remain accessible.

Bob Lemke

[GoldenAge50s]

Quote:
Originally Posted by maleesh
For those who would like more information on Bill Rumler, Sports Collectors Digest did a great article on him a few years ago. The issue is Sept 12, 1983, Vol. 20, No.38, 67th issue. I'm his grand niece and provided much of the information contained in the article. As an aside, Bill went onto coach a Lincoln NE minor league team, then onto Milford NE to be police and fire chief.



I'm confused about the SCD dates mentioned above. I have all 3 original issues from Sept 1983 right in my hand & the dates & volume #'s don't coincide.

My 3 copies are as follows:

Sept 2, 1983 Volume 10 #18
Sept 16, 1983 Volume 10 #19
Sept 30, 1983 Volume 10 #20

Can anyone explain?

[andybecker]

Originally Posted by Jacklitsch

Some of the "bad boys" zeenuts. Don't recall hearing about Dale.

1919 Babe Borton


1916 Maggert


1917 Maggert


No cards for Maggert in 1918 or 1919

1920 Maggert

nice Zees Jack!