November 03, 1909 - The Ogdensburg journal, NY - The "Spit Ball"
The "Spit Ball"
New York, Oct. 30.—It begins to look as if the spit ball will be put in storage and remain there. A talk with ball players last season indicates that the flinging of the wet ball will be a thing of the past next year, or at least there will be very few pitchers using it. Charlie Hemphill says the spit ball is not right and should he cut out: Willie Keeler says it's a difficult ball to hit and when it is breaking good you might as well go up there and take your swing and then sit down. Catchers have complained about it all the time, as it's hard to get a man stealing, as a catcher can't throw the ball as he would like to. Infielders also have their own troubles with the spit ball. Baseball fans always wondered why Elberfeld and other shortstops would get the ball and then turn it around in their glove before making the play. It was done so as to get a good grip on the ball. With fast men on no time could be lost and many a game was lost because of wild throws after a spitter was used. There is talk that the spit hall will be abolished at the big league.meeting, which would be a year's leeway given. Pitchers say that constant use of the spit ball ruins the arm, and if any pitcher has a good curve ball he loses it by pitching the spitter.
New York, Oct. 30.—It begins to look as if the spit ball will be put in storage and remain there. A talk with ball players last season indicates that the flinging of the wet ball will be a thing of the past next year, or at least there will be very few pitchers using it. Charlie Hemphill says the spit ball is not right and should he cut out: Willie Keeler says it's a difficult ball to hit and when it is breaking good you might as well go up there and take your swing and then sit down. Catchers have complained about it all the time, as it's hard to get a man stealing, as a catcher can't throw the ball as he would like to. Infielders also have their own troubles with the spit ball. Baseball fans always wondered why Elberfeld and other shortstops would get the ball and then turn it around in their glove before making the play. It was done so as to get a good grip on the ball. With fast men on no time could be lost and many a game was lost because of wild throws after a spitter was used. There is talk that the spit hall will be abolished at the big league.meeting, which would be a year's leeway given. Pitchers say that constant use of the spit ball ruins the arm, and if any pitcher has a good curve ball he loses it by pitching the spitter.
