BASEBALL PITCHERS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 20

BASEBALL PITCHERS

UNFAIR METHODS ADOPTED. '

Now and then the statement is made writes "A.G.L." in the "Manchester Guardian," that some of our English bowlers get their swerve by enlarging the crack of a new ball with their thumb-nail, but any trick of this sort becomes insignificant beside the work of the American baseball pitcher. Within the scope of the Yankee pitcher's machinations may come such monstrosities aa the '.'split ball," the "sailor," the "shine ball," and the "emery ball." ; The methods by which these freak deliveries are obtained are in reality unfair, and the way in which they are managed is guarded as a trade secret. Every now and then some "cagey pitching ace", is detected as a cheat and a deal of soiled linen is cleansed before ■ the pubilc. Here are some of the ways by which a baseball pitcher succeeds in perfecting .1 delivery which breaks several ways in the air or skids off the atmosphere, to the discouragement of the hitter. One man has a supply of vaseline in his glove and daubs a lump on the ball before he hurls it. Another pitcher applies a wad of chewing gum to the cover of the ball, and a rival chews a nasty mess oi .coffee grains, tobacco, and . liquorice to a thick paste, and anoints the ball. Resin rubbed over part of the uniform furnished another means of giving an artificial twist; a finger ring with a filed surface, and a strip of emery paper fastened inside the finger were other tricks. Ouo pitcher was long undetected, for ho had a roughened buckle on his belt and "unconsciously" rubbed the bail - against it. ■ ...