Elmer Stricklett

Elmer Griffin Stricklett
(Spitball)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 6", Weight 140 lb.
• School Washburn College, Santa Clara University
• Debut April 22, 1904
• Final Game September 24, 1907
• Born August 29, 1876 in Glasco, KS USA
• Died June 7, 1964 in Santa Cruz, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Elmer Stricklett is sometimes incorrectly credited as the inventor of the spitball. While he didn't invent the pitch himself - Bill James and Rob Neyer present credible evidence that he learned the pitch from minor league teammate George Hildebrand, who learned it from his teammate Frank Corridon - he played an important role in popularizing it. Both Jack Chesbro and Ed Walsh, early exponents of the spitter, supposedly learned about the pitch by watching Stricklett.

He was reinstated by the National Commission in 1912 after playing outside organized baseball for the previous three years.

In the minors, he won 20 games in a season at least five times. He umpired two National League games in 1907.

Related Sites

• Elmer Stricklett at the SABR Bio Project