Shellenback, Perry & the Spitter

[Brian McKenna]

I've read that Bob Shaw taught Gaylord Perry the spitball at the major league level in 1964, though it was actually shown to him by Slim Gardner when he was a boy.

My question is did Frank Shellenback, the famous spitball pitcher, have a hand in helping Perry develop the wet one. Shellenback was a 65-year-old scout for the Giants at the time. He was probably at training camp and probably had a hand with younger players. Anyone know?

What does Perry say in Me and the Spitter? Unfortunately, it's not available through Google Books.

Also, I've been told that Shellenback taught Shaw the spitball but that seems unlikely. Anyone have info here?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I've read that Bob Shaw taught Gaylord Perry the spitball at the major league level in 1964, though it was actually shown to him by Slim Gardner when he was a boy.

My question is did Frank Shellenback, the famous spitball pitcher, have a hand in helping Perry develop the wet one. Shellenback was a 65-year-old scout for the Giants at the time. He was probably at training camp and probably had a hand with younger players. Anyone know?

What does Perry say in Me and the Spitter? Unfortunately, it's not available through Google Books.

Also, I've been told that Shellenback taught Shaw the spitball but that seems unlikely. Anyone have info here?

I'm wondering, what did Perry say in the book, any mention of how often he wet one up. Any one out there that read the book. I'm sure he did admit to doing so in the book.
If he threw as many as some believe he had to be the best, the most cunning. Assuming he had no help from infielders, some who were good at scuffing a ball when the chance came up. Some others had infielders and even catchers, right under the home plate umps nose, scraping up the ball.

Lets get away from the aid of teammates, just Perry and wetting up the ball or using a greasy substance. For those who never saw him. Before every pitch, he would stroke the sides of his head, his hair and often both eyebrows to give the illusion that he has a substance on his hair or eyebrows. Many trips to the mound to check him out, one ejection in a 22 year career.

All eyes are on him, the spotlight is in him, opponents bench, first and third base coaches, the umpires, TV cameras with replays, slo-mo, frame by frame and it took them 20 years to catch him in the act.
20 years, he had to be good at his craft.

[rkoch]

Frank Shellenback had plenty of opportunity to teach the spitball if he wanted to as he pitched in the pcl and managed for many years but I dont remember him ever being accused of passing along any of the secret mysteries.As Shoeless Joe said in his post about Gaylord going to his hair and sideburns as though he had some substances there, Frank Shellenback went to his mouth before every pitch. I saw Frank pitch many times when I was 13-15 years old. Won a lot of games,one of the best hitting pitchers ever and was a very fine man.Ted Williams said he was the best manager he ever had.