Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-28
ONLYFOUR REMAIN
IN MAJOR LEAGUES
They, Though Explode Theory
of Wet Delivery Being
Harder on Arm.
BY GEORGE MORIARTY,

Biz League umpire.
Four NOR remaining, Mitchell and
Grimes,
John Ptncus Quinn and Urban Red
FGber;;
Embattled spitters to hear tareueH
Who'll be the last to feel times keen
sdber?
Spitball pitchers have written many
stirring chapters into the history of the
game. The pitchers named above are al
! veterans nearing the end of the trail.
Suffice it to say that they have lasted
to explode the old theory that the
'spitball taxes the arm more than any
| other delivery.
The damp fling first came into prorni-
nence quarter of century ago, with
the advent of Jack Chesbro and Ed
Walsh. Chesbro was distinguished for
having kept his team, the New York
Highlanders, in the race till the very
last day of the 1904 season, and then
for throwing away the pennant with a
wild spitball delivery.
Three Of Them Gone.
A few years ago there were seven
spitball specialists doing duty in the
dig show. Suddenly three of them,
CoveIeski, Doak and Shocker, dropped
out fthe picture. Shockers exit was
fastened by i'll health.
One day, in the Fall of 1926. he
plainly intimated that he was about
through. Shocker was trying to get rid
of a dangerous batsman in the nirth
inning of a close game, in which his
batter kept fouling each delivery. This
exasperated Shocker. Suddenly he ex-
claimed: IN give him everything on
this pitchi" The batter popped out, and
Shocker finished the game exhausted.
1t was apparent that he had lost his zip.
Stanley Coveleskie, for years with
Cleveland and later with Washington
and the Yankees, merely petered out
He was about the most frugal of the
spitball tribe. BY virtue of his pitch
ing economy. his career was extended
several years. His friends thought he
was through when he left Cleveland
but following that he enjoyed two
sterling seasons with Washington dur
ing the pennant winning days Of that
club.
Players who batted against Coveleskie
contend that he never Intentionally
wasted a pitch. He followed a policy
of using a half-speed splitter, and
slow curve for bait. Except Jimmy
/
more than 20 years ago. Coveleskie was
probably the best spitban pitcher Of his
pounds.
Faber at 1t Is Years.
Faber of the White Sox has been
dispensing the damp fling for is years
under the big tent. but even today he
doesn't look toward the bench in dis
tress when the going gets rough. Bur-
leigh Grimes, Pittsburgh ace, Is the
shocker type. extremely craft. con-
stantly "blufNng' his splitter and using
a variety Of stuff between damp filings.
Jack Quinn of the Mackmen is the
dean of them all. I officiated behind
the plate for him in game against the
White Sox about week ago. and his
stuff seemed as speedy as it was Is
| years back.
Mitchell of the st. Louis Cardinals
Is the only southpaw spitball worker in
the big show. His performance in al
lowing seven hits to Brooklyn one day
last week speaks volumes for his ability
to fool them regardless of his age. And
so their fellow-players in the major
leagues are asking: Which of these
magnificent veterans will be the last
to make his exit from the big league?"
Many believe that Grimes, through
his ability to conserve energy, will out
last his fellow-spitters. Grimes seems
to be at the very peak of his career.
and is required to pitch every fourth
day. The others may take from a
four to six day rest between games.
! Copyright, 1929. by North American News
paper Alliance