Famous Spitballers - Show 'Em!!!

[Bosox Blair]

On October 31, 1931 St. Louis released Burleigh Grimes. Grimes, a famous spitballer, was one of the players who was still permitted to use the spitball even after the pitch was banned.

The future Hall-of-Famer hung on for a few more years, eventually becoming the last pitcher to win a game legally using the spitball.

(Here is a link to the list of players who were allowed to keep throwing the spitter until retirement, even after the ban: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lispit.shtml )

Show us an item of a famous old-time spitballer!

Here's one from the list:

[B O'Brien]

Is that a glove on the throwing hand of Mr. Quinn?

Then again, it could just be a tough old hand from years gone by. I always take a look at the hands in old pictures, very neat to see. Coming from an old school coal mining family of Irish and Hungarian folks, there are some odd hands and forearms in the family tree!

Also, cool idea for a post!
Bob

[FrankWakefield]

I think this guy threw that stuff...



"I think the ball disintegrated on the way to the plate and the catcher put it back together again. I swear, when it went past the plate it was just the spit." - Outfielder Sam Crawford on Ed Walsh's pitching. (1965)

[scooter729]

More Walsh...

[HRBAKER]

[tbob]

Here's 3 more of the Legal Spitballers and one more who was a great spitballer but I believe retired before the 1920 decree from the commish.

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by B O'Brien

Is that a glove on the throwing hand of Mr. Quinn?

Then again, it could just be a tough old hand from years gone by. I always take a look at the hands in old pictures, very neat to see. Coming from an old school coal mining family of Irish and Hungarian folks, there are some odd hands and forearms in the family tree!

Also, cool idea for a post!
Bob

Hi Bob,

Hope you are doing well!

You have a keen eye - I never noticed the strange hand on that image before. I can't say for sure if he has an old leather hand (I'd bet on this) or if he might have a thin glove on. Or maybe he just pulled the hand out of a can of lard or oil...

Cheers,
Blair

[vwtdi]

another Walsh.

[David W]

One legal, one not

[slidekellyslide]

Snapshot of Clarence Mitchell.

[Brian Van Horn]

I don't have any cards of Caldwell or Mitchell, but here goes on several of the rest: