Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-09-09
AgitationAgainst Dread
Spitball Grows
Strong

SsA VIA
Agitation against the spit ball has
assumed concrete form, with Man
ayers Connie Mack of the Athletics,
Jimmy McAleer of st. Louis, and
Fielder Jones of Chicago as the lead
ers of the opposition to the splitter.
While Jones has been opposed to the
use of the dampened sphere for two
years, Mack and McAleer have only
recently filed their objections. Mack
was quoted recently as saying:
Mark my prediction. This is the
last year OF the splitter If the mana
gers of the American League clubs
have their way. The opposition to
the spit ball has grown, and | cer-
tainly look for It to be legislated
against next winter at the annual
meetings of the American and Ma
| tional Leagues. While some doubt
1t, | am firm in the opinion that u
rule can be made against the splitter
which can be enforced. The best
Judge of spit ball is the umpire. No
twirler can fool the official when he
is using a splitter"
Charley Comiskey, owner of the
Chicago White Sox, Is not as strong
against the spit ball as his manager.
Ed. Walsh, who is the mainstay of
the SoX in the pitchers box, is a spit
ball artist of high degree. Many
good judges consider Walsh the best
pitcher in the American League and
as good as any in the National.
Fielder Jones recently voiced his OPP
position to the spit ball to Comiskey.
why" said he, "if all the pitch
ers We're to use the spit ball. after a
while there wouldn't be any base hits
made" To which the "Old Roman
answered: well, when the time
comes when there are no more base
hits then the White Sox will win the
pennant every year"
Harry Howell of the st. Louis
Browns, who beat the Highlanders
last Friday, instead of being one OF
the most persistent users of the spit
ter in either league, now claims thai
he only uses the wet ball in pinches
while Howell believes the spit bal
will he used next year the same a.
in the past, he is taking no chance.
of its being abolished.
Barney Petty, another one of the
Browns pitching staff, says that II
would be impossible for the umpire
to detect pitcher moistening tn,
ball, as II would only be necessary
for him to wipe a little Precipitation
from his arm, and in that way damp
en- the ball
From Detroit comes a story of tn,
happenings in game between tn,
Highlanders and the Tigers on tn,
recent Western trip of the Broadwa,
Boys in which Jack Chesbro was con
WINGED that the Tigers had doctoreC
the ball so that he could not use hi
splitter.
They've put something on tn
ball" said Chesbro to Umpire Bill!
Evans, so the story goes, when Happ,
Jack WAS being slightly bumped il
the eighth inning.
"lf they've put anything on it, Civ,
1t to me and take this new one," wal
the response.
Chesbro looked at both balls, thei
threw the new one back.
mo, | guess I'll stick to this oen,
he said. Maybe it's just my imag
nation, | cant get my splitter work
ing, though"
This ended the subject, Evans
thought, but a moment later Tyru!
Cobb sent the crowd mad by hi
slashlng triple to right center, win
ming the game. Thea Jack started
lagain.
Il tell you they put something oil
that ball." he said. Il tasted it afor,
! pitched It,"
The ball was brought to Evans
who gingerly tasted the cover to Sc,
If those tricky Tigers had put oil o
mustard or some other dope" on /
so that the spit ball couldn't work.
TASTES all right" he said.
TASTES funny, l say" argue,
Jack.
'Lemme taste it," said Elberfeld
TASTES like lemon pie" solemn,
declared Herman Schaefer, holdini
his fingers in his mouth.
Kind o. nutmeggy," ruminate,
Bill Donovan, like spice cake"
do you think the ball has beer
doctored?" demanded Evans of El
berfeld.
well, Jack says It tastes funny
give it to me, then, and I'll hav'
1t examined"
So n new ball was put into pla,