Since last week’s announcement of the National (San Francisco Giant ace Tim Lincecum, 15-game winner) and American League (Kansas City Royal pitcher Zack Grienke, 16-game winner) Cy Young Award winners, a bubbling debate has begun over the value of a “win” placed on a pitcher’s statistical line.
“This whole thing about McGwire simply permits sportswriters to imagine themselves to be Woodward and Bernstein, people who see themselves as guardians of a sacred portal, the last best hope for truth and justice – and it’s all hogwash and baloney.” – John Thorn, baseball historian
On November 26, 1961 the rules committee for Major League Baseball voted 8 to 1 against legalizing the spitball. Four months later, Gaylord Perry — the most-celebrated of all spitball pitchers — made his major league debut.
