Did you know that John Boozer, on May 2, 1968, was ejected for throwing spitballs? Did you know it took place during the pre-game warm-up! Baseball Almanac likes to take a look "beyond the stats" and we hope you enjoy the following Baseball Digest (December 1972, Page 43) story:

A CASE OF MISGUIDED ENFORCEMENT AGAINST SPITBALL

It was 1968 and the rule saying a ball should be called in the pitched touched his fingers to his mouth had just been put into effect. Philadelphia was playing in New York and John Boozer had just relieved Woodie Fryman for the Phillies.

Boozer went to the mound for his eight warm up pitches, toed the rubber and spit on his hand. "Ball one," said umpire Ed Vargo.

"How can he be charged with a ball on a warm-up pitch?" cried Phillie manager Gene Mauch, rushing out to argue.

"He went to his mouth inside the 18-foot cricle," said Vargo. "And that's a ball anytime."

"But the game's eight pitches away from being in progress," said Mauch.

"It doesn't matter," answered Vargo.

"What if he does it again?" said Mauch.

"I'll call ball two."

"Do it," Mauch told Boozer who complied.

"Ball two," said Vargo.

Mauch told Boozer to spit again. Vargo called ball three and threw Boozer out of the game. Dick Hall came in to pitch.

"What if Hall does it?" said Mauch.

"I'll forfeit the game to the Mets," said Vargo.

Mauch wasn't prepared to go that far but the Mets' Bud Harrelson became the first man in baseball history to draw three balls while in the on-deck circle. And the last.

The next day, National League preseident Warren Giles ruled the spitball ban does not apply during the warm-up period.

You can follow the team links in the chart above to locate common statistics (singles), advanced statistics (WHIP Ratio & Isolated Power), and unique statistics (plate appearances & times on bases) not found on any other website.

If you find this type of "free" data useful please consider making a donation to Baseball Almanac : a privately run / non-commercial site in need of financial assistance.