Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Counts
I can't answer the foul ball question, but I recently discovered umpires started started tossing out scuffed or dirty balls in 1921, an event that was likely related to the foul ball question. The spitball was also banned at the same time. These changes were clearly done with the intention of taking advantage of the live ball, which was introduced the previous year ...
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I believe there was also great emphasis on player safety after Ray Chapman's death after being hit by a Carl Mays pitch in 1920...a dirty ball was harder for the batter to see.