Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28

ldClOI, LLc IIldHdScIS anu prayers began 10
think of schemes that might offset the de-
livery of the spit ball twirlers.
In 1904, Jack Chesbro made most won
derful record, largely through the use of the
spit ball. He was one of the first pitchers to
perfect the delivery, and he won forty-one
games that year out of a possible fftythree.
He made the New York club contender for
the pennant until the very last day, when
the wild pitch of splitter practically lost the
pennant that he himself had all but won.
Chesbro's success against each one of the
clubs was the same. He was well nigh in
vincible Other pitchers, quick to note the
power of the spit ball, began to experiment
with it. In very short time, a year or two,
boasted of a spit ball. Ways and means of
breaking up the pernicious activity of the
spit ballers must have been discussed by
every team, from the number of methods
adopted to minimize the effectiveness of the
new delivery.
Oil of mustard and other connections that
proved anything but pleasant to the mouth
Of the spit ball pitcher were first used. For
time the teams got away with this stunt.
The pitchers soon became wise, however,
and most of them began to develop the sense
of smell to greater degree. When in doubt
as to whether any foreign matter had been
his nose to determine definitely. If still in
doubt, he asked the umpire for new ball.
Realizing what an unfair practice it was and
that every team could use it to the same adj
vantage, the clubs suddenly dropped the
method entirely, and it is no longer heard of.
The fact that the spit ball pitchers have be-
come the exception instead of the rule, and
that only a few of them are much feared, has
also cut down the number of devices used to
curtail the effectiveness of the vapor float.
ONE big league manager put over very
clever stunt for sometime before being
discovered. 1t was one of the methods used
to Offset the splitter. The manager had the
balls sandpapered whenever a spit ball
pitcher was selected to oppose him on the
home grounds. The effect of the sandpaper
was to make the balls rough and wingy.
Since smooth surface is necessary for the
pitcher to use spit ball effectively, it can
readily be seen what advantage was gained
by the use of the sandpaper. The umpires,
of course, examined the balls each day; but
by wetting them trifle after they had been
sandpapered, and then rubbing the leather
with the grain, all evidence was removed.
When the pitcher threw the ball, rubbing his
fingers against the grain of the leather, the
splitter lost its deceptive feature. There
must be no friction in throwing the splitter,
and the rough surface of course created such
a condition. Often during the game the
pitcher would complain to the umpire that
the ball was wingy. The umpire, after look
ing it over, would take it out of play, only to
have similar complaint from the same
pitcher in the very next inning.
By chance one of the umpires noted the
condition of the balls before the start of the
game one day. He threw out about dozen,
and that afternoon put nothing but new
balls into play He also notified the presi-
dent of his league of his discovery. No
doubt the tricky manager was severely
warned; for never again was there any COM
plant from visiting pitcher on that score.
FEW fans ever connect the ground keeper
with the success of a team; yet some of
them on the major league circuits have
played prominent parts in many important
battles on the diamond. Usually they are
simply carrying out the orders of someone
higher up; but every now and then they
perfect some feature that helps the home
team and until discovered works to the
detriment Of the visitors. The built up foul
line, the elevated pitchers box, and the
slowing up Of the playing field by the use
of water when the opposition is fast on
bases, are just few of the contrivances that
are cOncocted bv the ground keeper