Overview of the Spitter | Origins of the Spitball 20th Century | Origins of the Spitball 19th Century | Famous Pitchers Dabbling in the Spitter | For or Against the SpitterArticles on the Spitter | Frank Shellenback Talks About the Spitter
The Spitball
In the early 20 th century, the games greatest spitballers, Ed Walsh and Jack Chesbro—as well as the greatest number of spitballers—were both American Leaguers. This led Chicago sportswriter Charlie Dryden to write:
"The American League consists of Ban Johnson ( AL president], the 'spit ball' and the Wabash Railroad."
Read about Philadelphia Athletics' pitching great Jack Coombs and his spitball, or, more accurately, his "bloodball."
Spitball Features include the story of how Larry Cheney use the spitter to resurrect his career and to lead Brooklyn to the 1916 pennant. There's also a story on Clark Griffith, who used to scuff baseball as a pitcher in the 19 th century and who led the fight against the spitter and other "trick pitchers" as a team owner in the 29 th century.
Overview of the Spitter
A two-part article of mine on the spitter. The remarks of pitchers Walter Johnson and Carl Hubbell, speaking in favor of hitting, are fascinating.
- The Spitter, Synopsis, Part 1
- The Spitter, Synopsis, Part 2
- Spitball: How It's Thrown
- Spitball: Hitting the Spitter
- Spitball: Then & Now
Origins of the Spitball 20th Century? (Conventional Explanation)
- The Origin of the Spitball
- 1920 Letter on the Origin of the Spitball
- The Demise of the Spitter in the 1920's...and it's Rebirth
Origins of the Spitball 19th Century? (Latest Research)
More material suggesting that the spitter was not a 20th century invention, but rather was used by pitchers in the late 1800s. Read about National League pitcher Billy Hart and famous St. Louis amateur pitcher Pope Sturgeon.
19th Century Spitballers Revisited adds more supporting evidence that the spitter was used well before the early 1900s.
The Spitballers' Database has been updated and now includes almost 100 early 20 th century pitchers.
- The Origin of the Spitball 19th Century?
- More on 19th Century Spitballers
- 19th Century Spitballers Revisited
- Billy Hart and the Spitball
- Pope Sturgeon
- ‘Grandfathered’ Spitball Pitchers
- Spitballers’ Database
Famous Pitchers Dabbling in the Spitter
Famous Pitchers Dabbling in the Spitter has a feature about Christy Mathewson's taking up the pitch near the end of his career, including his own words. Taken together with the details about Walter Johnson and his spitter, this article shows just how much the spitball penetrated pitching circles in the Deadball Era (1901-1919).
For or Against the Spitter
Quotes in favor and against the spitter: Read what well-known baseball figures—including New York Giants’ manager John McGraw, pitcher Warren Spahn, and Commissioner Ford Frick—said about the “wet one.” Their remarks may surprise you.
Speaking Out against the Spitball includes a new 1917 quote from the president of the Western League. His remarkable insight talks about the rationale for banning the pitch, as well as the physics that makes the ball so difficult to hit.
Articles on the Spitter
A wealth of material on the spitball is being added to this web site, focusing primarily on the early 20th century. Also note that the long-awaited book by Bill James and Rob Neyer, THE NEYER/JAMES GUIDE TO PITCHERS, has been published and is now in bookstores. It is, among other things, an excellent resource for “what they threw,” the repertoire of many pitchers throughout baseball history. Special thanks to Eric Sallee, who brought the Eller, Jones, and Sanborn pieces to my attention.
- Managers Like the Spitball…when their Pitcher is Throwing It: Chick Fraser Gets Mgr. Frank Chance to “Soften” on the Spitter
- Larry Cheney resuscitated his career when he took up the spitter in 1916 and helped Brooklyn win its first 20th century penant.
- As a 19th century pitcher, Clark Griffith depended on a Trick Pitch. As a 20th century team owner, he led the fight against Trick Pitches.
- Deadly Spitball
- Read what Chicago White Sox manager Fielder Jones had to say about the spitter. His remarks will surprise you—because he had one of the game’s greatest spitballers, Ed Walsh.
- Hod Eller, star shineball pitcher of the 1919 Cincinnati Reds, speaking out against the new 1920 rules banning trick, or “freak,” pitches. Unlike the spitballers, hurlers of other banned pitches were not “grandfathered” (allowed to continue throwing the pitch).
- A 1907 overview of the spitter by well-known Chicago sportswriter Irving Sanborn.
Frank Shellenback Talks About the Spitter
Frank Shellenback talks about the spitter. He was a spitball pitcher on the Chicago White Sox in 1919, but they did not list him on the protected list, and thus was not included in the group of spitballers who could continue to use the pitch after it was banned in 1920. (He was in the minors at the time.) He won around 300 games in the minor leagues, mainly the Pacific Coast League. Between 1927 and 1933 alone, he won more than 160 games for the Hollywood Stars. He was later a pitching coach for a number of years, including the Red Sox in the 1940s and the Giants in the 1950s.