Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1913 — STARS WHO DEMONSTRATED SPIT BALL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STARS WHO DEMONSTRATED SPIT BALL

Many pitchers must thank Chesbro and Ed Walsh for the fact that they are in fast company today. These two great stars were the first to demonstrate that the spit ball was to be depended upon. Since that time scores of twirlers have sprung up who have been effective as spitters but who

would have had nothing but speed and a prayer without the latest delivery. The writer remembers the time, and it was only a few years ago, when Chesbro was laughed at for his spit ball. “Oh, some newfangled stunt which will soon pass out of existence,” was the remark. But he kept plugging away at it, made it a go, and Ed Walsh then swung into line.

Walsh practically won the world's championship for the White Sox in 1906 through his spitball delivery. Prior to that time he had been a bench warmer. Only his great speed had kept him on the pay roll. The fact that he might amount to something was Comiskey’s hope, and he encouraged his trying the spitter. Then batters began to holler about the delivery. They held that it wasn’t real baseball —that it should be legislated out of the game. Those magnates who didn’t have a spitball pitcher on their staff joined in the antimovement You see there were only a scattering few in those days—you could have counted them on the fingers of one hand.

Nine-tenths of the fans shook their heads and said it was a freak delivery that would soon die out. It’s an actual fact that Owner Charles Murphy was one of those opposed to the delivery. Look at the Cubs today. They have Lavender and Cheney, both leading spitball throwers. Murphy was convinced especially after he saw the great performances of Ed Walsh, king of them all. Now all of the magnates and managers are on the outlook for a star spitball artist Even McGraw, of the Giants, is well pleased over the new-fangled style, especially since he added Jeff Tesreau to his staff.

It has been claimed only big, massive fellows can use this kind of delivery. Walsh, with his power and weight, was given three years and then “back to the minors for him.” They argued that his system would not stand the strain any longer. Even Reulbach, for years a leader in the National league, is beginning to try out the spitball, because he knows his days as a curve ball thrower are numbered. That old snap of his arm is slowly but surely telling on him. He has watched Walsh’s career with interest, noted that Ed pitches with an easy movement, and has come to the conclusion it isn’t all bunk after all.

“Jeff” Tesreau of New York Giants.

Ed Reulbach.