The Spitter (spitball
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Sports
Baseball Painting
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The Spitter (spitball) |
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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A spitball is a baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance. Such a pitch presents an additional challenge to the hitter because it causes the ball to move atypically during its approach due to the altered wind-resistance and weight on one side of the ball. Alternative names for the spitball are spitter, mud ball, shine ball and emery ball, although technically, an emery ball is one where the ball has been abraded in much the same way that the original cut ball had been physically cut. Preparing a spitball is similar to ball tampering in cricket, an action in which a fielder illegally alters the condition of the ball. Although the spitball is now banned at all levels of
professional and organized amateur baseball, it is still sometimes
thrown in violation of the rules. (In 1942, Leo Durocher, then-manager
of the Brooklyn Dodgers, fined Bobo Newsom for throwing a spitball and
"lying to me about it.") Typically, a lubricant is hidden behind the
pitcher's knee or under the peak of his cap. Others will place the ball
in their mitt and then cough on or lick it. Another tactic pitchers use
is to soak their hair in water before going out to the mound, and then
rubbing their hand in their hair before a pitch. Some pitchers have even
glued a piece of sandpaper to one of their fingers, and scuffed a part
of the ball to achieve a similar effect to the spitball. |
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