The Resume

(September 17, 1879-December 9, 1930)
Pitched for various black baseball teams (1897-1917)
Nicknamed 'Rube' after winning a pitching duel against Major Leaguer Rube Waddell
Co-owner and manager of the Chicago American Giants (1911-26)
Organized the Negro National League (NNL) and was the first president (1920-26)
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1981)

Why he might be annoying:

He formally adopted his nickname as his middle name.
He smoked a pipe.
As NNL president, he was accused of favoring his American Giants in scheduling and personnel decisions.
He struck a pedestrian while backing his car out of his garage.
He suffered a nervous breakdown, began chasing imaginary fly balls and failed to recognize his own family.
He was institutionalized for the last four years of his life.

Why he might not be annoying:

Honus Wagner called him 'the smartest pitcher I've ever seen.'
As a manager, he was credited with pioneering the bunt and run.
White major leaguers attended American Giants games to study Foster's tactics.
The NNL drew up to 4,000,000 fans a year.
His dream of a World Series between baseball's best black team and best white team was stymied when Major League Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis refused.
Landis told Foster, 'When you beat our teams, it gives us a black eye.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Baseball Hall of Famers (Ranked: 1981)
• Baseball Players
• Black Heavyweights
• Black Men Loved by Whites
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 01]
• Chrome Domes and Cue Balls
• I am a Texan
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [D-G]
• I Died in 1930 (Ranked: 51)
• I Had a Nervous Breakdown
• I Played Negro League Baseball
• I'm Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• My Nickname is Part of My Name [A-L]
• Profiles 19001-19250 (Ranked: 19019)
• Sport Coaches/Managers

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 40 Votes: 5.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 22 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 34 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 38 Votes: 44.74% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 93 Votes: 55.91% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 45 Votes: 48.89% Annoying