Elmer Stricklett
Encyclopedia
Elmer Griffin Stricklett (August 29, 1876 – June 7, 1964), was a professional baseball pitcher
. He pitched in Major League Baseball
from 1904 through 1907. He is best known for being the first pitcher to master the spitball
.
with the Topeka Colts of the Kansas State League
in 1897. In 1898, he pitched for the Salina Blues and Atchison Huskers of the Kansas State League, before joining the Dallas Colts of the Class-C Texas League
in 1898. He pitched for the Rock Island-Moline Islanders of the Class-B Western Association
in 1899. He split the 1900 season with Wheeling Stogies and Toledo Mud Hens
, both of the Class-B Interstate League
. In 1901, Stricklett pitched for the Toledo Swamp Angels of the Western Association and Sacramento Senators
of the California League
. In 1902, he pitched for the Newark Sailors of the Class-A Eastern League
and the Sacramento Gilt Edges of the California League. In 1903, Stricklett pitched for Los Angeles and the Seattle Chinooks of the Pacific National League.
Stricklett began the 1904 season with the Milwaukee Brewers
of the Class-A American Association
, before he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox
of the American League
. Stricklett appeared in one game for the Chicago White Sox
in 1904. In 1905, Stricklett began the year with San Jose of the California League, before he was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas
of the National League
. He remained with Brooklyn through the 1907 season, pitching on Opening Day
for the 1907 Brooklyn Superbas
.
In 1908, Stricklett returned to the California League to pitch for the San Jose Prune Prickers and Sacramento Sacts, and refused to report to Brooklyn in 1909 as his wife wanted him to remain closer to their California home. As the California League was not recognized in organized baseball at this time, Stricklett was banned by MLB. He was reinstated by the National Commission in 1912 after playing outside organized baseball for the previous three years.
In four MLB seasons, Stricklett went 35-51 with a 2.84 earned run average
and 10 shutouts. In the minors, he won 20 games in a season at least five times.
He died in Santa Cruz, California
, at the age of 87.
. However, other reports claimed that he didn't invent the pitch, but was the first to master it. Stricklett may have learned the spitball from minor league teammate George Hildebrand
, who learned it from his teammate Frank Corridon
. Another theory is that the pitch was created in 1873, but Stricklett revived its use.
Stricklett played an important role in popularizing the spitball. Stricklett taught the spitball to both Jack Chesbro
and Ed Walsh
. Though Chesbro had experimented with the pitch in the minor leagues, Stricklett showed him how to master it in 1904.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1904 through 1907. He is best known for being the first pitcher to master the spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
.
Career
Stricklett began his professional career in minor league baseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Topeka Colts of the Kansas State League
Kansas State League
Three different baseball leagues in the United States have used the name Kansas State League. All three leagues were based in the state of Kansas in the early 20th century...
in 1897. In 1898, he pitched for the Salina Blues and Atchison Huskers of the Kansas State League, before joining the Dallas Colts of the Class-C Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1898. He pitched for the Rock Island-Moline Islanders of the Class-B Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
in 1899. He split the 1900 season with Wheeling Stogies and Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
, both of the Class-B Interstate League
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
. In 1901, Stricklett pitched for the Toledo Swamp Angels of the Western Association and Sacramento Senators
Sacramento Senators
Sacramento Senators may refer to:* Sacramento Senators, U.S. minor league baseball team* Sacramento Senators , U.S. minor league soccer team...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. In 1902, he pitched for the Newark Sailors of the Class-A Eastern League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and the Sacramento Gilt Edges of the California League. In 1903, Stricklett pitched for Los Angeles and the Seattle Chinooks of the Pacific National League.
Stricklett began the 1904 season with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
of the Class-A American Association
American Association
American Association may refer to one of the following professional baseball leagues:* American Association , active from 1882 to 1891* American Association , active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997...
, before he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. Stricklett appeared in one game for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1904. In 1905, Stricklett began the year with San Jose of the California League, before he was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He remained with Brooklyn through the 1907 season, pitching on Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
for the 1907 Brooklyn Superbas
1907 Brooklyn Superbas season
The Brooklyn Superbas finished in fifth place, with another losing season.- Notable transactions :* July 5, 1907: Al Burch was purchased by the Superbas from the St. Louis Cardinals.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
.
In 1908, Stricklett returned to the California League to pitch for the San Jose Prune Prickers and Sacramento Sacts, and refused to report to Brooklyn in 1909 as his wife wanted him to remain closer to their California home. As the California League was not recognized in organized baseball at this time, Stricklett was banned by MLB. He was reinstated by the National Commission in 1912 after playing outside organized baseball for the previous three years.
In four MLB seasons, Stricklett went 35-51 with a 2.84 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 10 shutouts. In the minors, he won 20 games in a season at least five times.
He died in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, at the age of 87.
Spitball
Stricklett alleged that he invented the spitballSpitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
. However, other reports claimed that he didn't invent the pitch, but was the first to master it. Stricklett may have learned the spitball from minor league teammate George Hildebrand
George Hildebrand
George Albert Hildebrand was an American left fielder and umpire in Major League Baseball who played 11 games for the 1902 Brooklyn Superbas and later umpired in the American League from 1913 to 1934. He is often credited as having invented the spitball while playing in the minor leagues...
, who learned it from his teammate Frank Corridon
Frank Corridon
Frank Joseph Corridon [Fiddler] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0" 170 lb., Corridon was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.The invention of the spitball has been credited...
. Another theory is that the pitch was created in 1873, but Stricklett revived its use.
Stricklett played an important role in popularizing the spitball. Stricklett taught the spitball to both Jack Chesbro
Jack Chesbro
John Dwight Chesbro was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Highlanders , and Boston Red Sox . His 41 wins during the 1904 season remains an MLB record for the modern era...
and Ed Walsh
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.-Baseball career:Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career...
. Though Chesbro had experimented with the pitch in the minor leagues, Stricklett showed him how to master it in 1904.