Dusty Rhoads 1904 Cleveland Indians in batting position against Chicago Orphans, with catcher in position in spring training game in West Side Grounds in Chicago. Photo negative SDN - 000416 Chicago Daily News courtesy Chicago HIstorial Society

Bob Rhoads started pitching professionally in 1902 with the Chicago Orphans, later nicknamed the Cubs.

Dusty Rhoads collected over 10 wins for 5 straight seasons for the Cleveland Brouchos, later nicknamed the Indians, from 1904 thru 1908. His win loss records and earned run averages during those seasons were as follows: 10-9 with 2.87 ERA, 16-9 with a 2.83, a team leading 21-10 with a stingy 1.80 ERA and a 17-10 with a 2.29.

Pitching in the dead ball era Bob Rhoads was an accomplished star in the Cleveland area. One Cleveland newspaper stated, ‘if his pitches were elevated or outside of the home plate, he knew how to fix it because he was a smart pitcher.’ Bob Rhoades played with Hall of Fame teammates Nap Lajoie, Elmer Flick and pitcher Addie Joss and although they never won the AL pennant during the early 1900s they generally played over .500 ball.