How did the spitball become one of baseball's most infamous and controversial pitches?

The spitball, a pitch with a doctored baseball to make it move unpredictably, became one of baseball's most infamous and controversial pitches due to its potential for deception and its impact on the game.

The spitball dates back to the early years of baseball, and it involves applying foreign substances like saliva, tobacco juice, or other substances to one side of the baseball. When thrown, the altered ball behaves erratically, making it difficult for batters to predict its trajectory. Pitchers who mastered the spitball could use it to their advantage, gaining an edge over hitters who were unaccustomed to facing such a challenging pitch.

In the early days of baseball, pitchers were allowed to doctor the ball to some extent, making the spitball a legal pitch. However, as the effectiveness of the pitch became more apparent, it began to draw concerns about its fairness and safety. Batters found it increasingly difficult to read the pitch's movement, leading to calls for its banishment from the game.

The controversy surrounding the spitball reached its peak during the 1910s and 1920s. Some pitchers, like Hall of Famer Ed Walsh, became renowned for their mastery of the pitch. However, as the number of spitball practitioners increased, and the challenges faced by batters grew, critics argued that it was time to outlaw the pitch to level the playing field.

Major League Baseball eventually took action in 1920, banning the spitball and other pitches with foreign substances. However, the rule allowed existing spitball pitchers, often referred to as "grandfathered" pitchers, to continue throwing the pitch throughout their careers. This led to a controversial phase where some pitchers were permitted to throw the pitch while others were not.

In the years that followed, the spitball gradually faded from the game, as the last grandfathered pitchers retired. The controversy surrounding the pitch remained, as discussions arose about the fairness of allowing certain pitchers to use a pitch that was forbidden to others

While the spitball is now a relic of baseball's past, its legacy persists in the game's history and lore. It remains a testament to the ever-evolving rules and regulations that shape the sport, and the ongoing quest to strike a balance between pitcher and batter, deception and fair play.

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