There are two different Nap Rucker poses in the T206 set. One shows the left handed pitcher at the end of his motion, and this understated portrait depicts the Brooklyn hurler in front of a gray gradient background. Sharp corners and edges, and clean, white borders lift this example to its high grade. Centering is nearly perfect, with the image just slightly west on the canvas. The Piedmont print on the card's back is printed far to the east, but is fully present. PSA has
only ever graded 95 total examples of this Piedmont 150 back version of
the
Rucker, with
only 5 receiving a
higher grade than the EX 5 offered here.
George Napoleon "Nap" Rucker spent all 10 of his Major League seasons throwing for the same franchise in Brooklyn, though the team's name changed from Superbas to Dodgers to Robins during his time on the roster. Rucker was an innings eater, hitting the 300 mark each year from 1908 to 1911, and falling just 2.1 innings shy of continuing that streak in 1912. His career high of 320.1 innings led the league in 1910, a season during which he also led the league with 27 complete games.