Books and articles about Nels Potter

Potter was the only ML pitcher ever suspended for throwing a spitball. He had a habit of wetting his fingers before picking up the resin bag. On July 20, 1944, pitching for the Browns against the Yankees, he was warned by umpire Cal Hubbard, then on the next occasion thrown out of the game. He was suspended for ten days, although he always denied throwing a spitter. The incident probably cost him a 20-win season; he was 19-7 for the pennant-winning Browns. He gave up only one earned run in two World Series starts, but six Browns errors left him with an 0-1 record.

RELATED LINKS » 1945: "The Tigers went into the ninth inning trailing 3-2, but loaded the bases against St. Louis screwballer Nelson Potter. That's when Hank Greenberg hit his grand-slam homer": Richard Tellis » 1957: Red Smith on Spitballers Around the Web » Nels Potter from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

In 1948, while a reliever with the Athletics, he got into a clubhouse argument with Connie Mack and demanded his release. When it was granted, he signed for a bonus with the Braves and went 5-2 to help them win the NL pennant.

Potter relied on the screwball and slider. With the 1938-40 Athletics he compiled a poor 19-38 mark, and in 1941 when an old knee injury failed to respond to surgery, he was sold to the Red Sox. Returned to the minors, in 1943 he was drafted by the Browns. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 26, 1944: The Red Sox defeat the Browns 4–2 in 11 innings, although Browns P Nels Potter retires the first 23 batters he faces. » July 20, 1944: The Browns Nelson Potter becomes the first pitcher suspended for throwing spitballs. He is banished for 10 days for allegedly "putting an illegal substance on the ball." Potter will return and win 19 games for St. Louis. » May 25, 1945: Red Sox CF Leon Culberson makes an unassisted DP when he catches a short looper and continues on to 2B to nab Vern Stephens before he can return. Despite the play, the Red Sox lose to the Browns, 5–0. Nels Potter records the shutout. » May 30, 1947: Before a crowd of 56,367, the first-place Tigers split a pair with the Browns to move to three games ahead of Cleveland. Detroit wins the lidlifter, 2–1 as Hal Newhouser scatters five hits, but Nelson Potter tops Virgil Trucks, 8–3, to take the nitecap. Tiger rookie Johnny McHale accounts for all three runs in game two with a pair of homers. » May 8, 1948: The A's purchase 37-year-old P Nels Potter from the Browns for $20,000.