The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-29
SPIT BALL.LOSING
ITS POPULARITY
Has Features Objectionable TO
Both Fan and Player
HAS BECOME VERY COMMON
What Was Considered One of the Gen.
turyis Greatest Contributions to
the Game Is Destined to
Decline.

Is the spit BALI destined to be dis
carded?
That is a Question that many baseball
authorities are asking and answering just
at present.
The spit BALI for some time after its
introduction. was considered one OF the
most important contributions Of the TWEEN
tleth century 10 the national game. It's
effectiveness was not overestimated. 1t
batters. and even yet, used occasionally.
is hard proposition to solve.
The spit ball." however. has its dis
advantages, and they are many. 1t is
not surprising that It is losing favor
with many of the best twirlers. Chesbro,
who holds the honor of inventing 1t. uses
it occasionally now. but does not put
speed behind It. He relies on its curve
to deceive the batter.
A new ball is being used by several
of the big league pitchers, that is caus-
ing a good deal of comment in the base
ball world. 1t is known as the fade
away ball. and is said to be equally as
deceptive as the spit ball" 1t is not
easily explained. and until it is more
thoroughly mastered it cannot be defined
1t is claimed further that 1t does not
wear out the pitchers arm as much as
the spit ball. and has none of the
other Objectionable features of the moist
fling
The spit bal' has become very com
mon even among minor league artists.
The ball in one form or another Is used
by many pitchers in the Southern league
at present. Wilhelm of the Coal Barons
has mastered It, and Birmingham fans
have seen it used on a number of oc-
casions. II has been demonstrated here
that the ball will lose its popularity.
One of its disadvantages was shown
recently when the ball was batted to
Oyler's territory. The fast little shortstop
picked 1t up in great shape but in throw
ing to first, its slippery condition caused
it to go wild, and the runner went to
second.
Furthermore, there is a question as to
the legality of the use of the split ball.
If a player cannot Intentionally discolor,
grease, or otherwise change a ball in
play from its natural condition, there
is a question as to whether he should
be allowed to wet it.
j.. ii. Mufndne, Wflll1S III lue OlHSih7
natl Enquirer contributes the following
to the discussion of the split BALI;
ALREADY | have noticed several pitch
ers working the "fade-away' BALL and
before the season is over scores of pitch
ers Will have this style of curve down
fine. It's the most effective ball delivered
to the bat at the present day-not except
ing the spit ball-which has lost caste
with the pitchers who care to remain in
the business with a strong whip.
Jack Chesbro Is still working the spit
ball, but not as often as two years ago.
and now taking great pains and sending
the ball up very slowly, having developed
splendid control. | fully believe before
the season is over this freak delivery will
have passed out of the game, and should
have been legislated out long ago, just as.
much as If a pitcher was allowed>to carry
a pot of grease for the purpose of pre-
venting the ball from being hit, for with
out good hitting the game grows uninter
esting. and hitting the ball clean and safe
is fast becoming lost art, as the scores
will show. Hitting and base running on
one side with sharp fielding for opposition
are the essential qualities for interesting
baseball games, and will bring out the
features that the public will talk about
and advertise the sport