"END" OF SPITBALLING

Dick Young

July 04, 1955

The spitball was declared illegal in 1920 when a joint rules committee of the major leagues voted to bar pitchers from using "foreign substances" on the ball. The era of the hitters was being ushered in and pitchers were believed previously to have had an undue advantage. Although the question of danger was raised, the leagues permitted 17 hurlers already throwing the spitball to continue using it to the end of their careers. Pitchers like Urban Shocker (1916-28), Burleigh Grimes (1916-34), Stan Coveleskie (1912-28) and Red Faber (1914-33) compiled fine winning records using the spitter before they retired.