Hubert Shelby "Shucks" Pruett (September 1, 1900 in Malden, Missouri – January 28, 1982 in Ladue, Missouri), was a professional baseball left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1922 to 1932. He acquired the nickname "Shucks" because that was the strongest word in his vocabulary. He played for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, and Boston Braves. His claim to fame was that he had a knack for getting Babe Ruth out. Pruett was a medical student during his early years in baseball, and used his baseball pay to finance his medical education. Years later he personally thanked Ruth for this: That Ruth struck out—10 of the first 13 times he faced Pruett—was one reason Pruett was kept on by the Browns (though Ruth did eventually hit a home run off him).
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