Baseball Daily Miscellany

Burleigh Grimes began his major league baseball career in September 1916 as a pitcher. He never shaved on the days he pitched which led to his nickname, Ol’ Stubblebeard.

He was renowned for throwing the spitball, a ball whose trajectory was averted most commonly by the application of saliva. Such ball tampering was outlawed in 1920 but Grimes was one of 17 spitballers who were permitted at the time to continue using such tactics until their retirement. Grimes was the last surviving member of this unique club, retiring in 1934, his spitters having helped him appear in four World Series.