Talk:Spitball

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Contents 1 Dry spitter 2 RAY CHAPMAN 3 Spitball prank? 4 Pitchers accused of throwing a spitball

[edit] Dry spitter

I wonder if you guys know there's a pitch called the dry spitter? It's in the Mechanics of a Fastball page.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.224.136.16 (talk • contribs) 21:38, 14 October 2004

I hadn't heard of that until now. I'll try to add a bit, but you can also feel free to add anything about it. —siroχo

Actually, after some research into it, I think dry spitter might actually just be slang for the knuckleball. Anyone else know for sure? —siroχo

[edit] RAY CHAPMAN

In the article on the "spitball" the author indicates that the banning of such pitches was in reaction to the death of Ray Chapman. Actually I believe the rule banning the "spitball" as well as other substances and alterations was passed by MLB before the 1920 season, and Chapman was killed in August of the 1920 season. If true, the conclusion is spurious. —Preceding unsigned comment added by TraderHank (talk • contribs) 19:38, 22 March 2006

Regarding the Chapman death, last year I discussed this with a local baseball guru whose dad as an MLB ump prior to WWII. His take is that after the rule was passed, mainly to stop pitchers from using copious tobacco use to darken and make the ball slick, enforcement of the rule was lax in both leagues until hapless Chapman was fatally hit by a pitch. So, his death may have played a role in putting an end to spitters.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.64.114.2 (talk • contribs) 01:29, 28 January 2007

More info is needed in this subject. The problem in the Chapman case was mainly that the ball was too dark. It's not so much the banning of the spitball that was prompted by Chapman's death, but more frequent substitution of a new ball. The main problem is that a baseball starts out white and gets darker, thus nullifying the effect of the batter's background screen. In cricket, the ball is dark (usually red) and the batsman's screen is white. The ball may get beat up, but it's going to stay dark, and visible. The other side effect of banning the spitball and substituting new balls more often was essentially what Cobb was complaining about, i.e. that it enabled more home run hitting. Cobb, of course, considered that a bad thing. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} 13:20, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Spitball prank?

Isn't spitball also the name of the prank where you blow a paper ball thru a barrel-like object? --Voidvector 06:01, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

• That's a spitwad. Wahkeenah 08:28, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pitchers accused of throwing a spitball

Would this section be appropriate? Of course, citations would be of the utmost importance, but this is an important part of baseball lore IMO. Citations are needed in the rest of this article anyway. TexasMathetes (talk) 05:28, 22 March 2008 (UTC)