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George Frazier
George Frazier pitched for 10 years in the major leagues and appeared in 415 games, all in relief. In fact, his only start as a professional ballplayer came in 1978 as a member of the Triple-A Springfield Cardinals. Every other game — 631 in the majors and minors — was out of the bullpen. Frazier had a 35-42 record in the majors, with 29 saves and a 4.20 ERA. He struck out 449 batters in 675-2/3 innings and walked 313. He had a lifetime 96 ERA+ and a WHIP of 1.430.
Frazier, in his retirement, came clean about his illegal pitches. He claimed that Yankees manager, Billy Martin told him to learn the spitball or go back to the minors. The pitcher said that he’d do it, as long as Martin paid the fines. “I had a wife and kids. I wasn’t making the kind of money they’re making today. I couldn’t afford it,” Frazier explained. Frazier also said that he was taught the finer points of illegal pitches by Gaylord Perry, after Perry saw Frazier attempting to use a spitter against his Seattle Mariners. “He told me, ‘C’mere, you look terrible loading this thing up. Let me show you a couple tricks.’ He taught me how to hide it,” Frazier recalled.
Frazier never relied on the spitter too much, but the fact that he had it was another weapon in his arsenal. “I always told opposing hitters I was going to throw it. Dave Parker and I are good friends, and I’d tell Dave, ‘Any time you see me touch my skin it’s coming.’ And so, he would always call time and check the ball, and of course I wouldn’t have anything on it. Then I’d throw the spitter on the next pitch. You always look for advantages like that.” - ripbaseball
The old one was good but as requested, I redid the CUF one with one of mine making.
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