"And I'll also use the paper for small blisters."Ħ. And the sandpaper? "Sometimes I sweat a lot, and the emery board gets wet," he explained. "It was like a guy walking down the street carrying a bottle of booze during Prohibition." Niekro denied any wrongdoing, arguing that as a knuckleballer, he needed the emery board to file his fingernails. Niekro's ejected and suspended for 10 days. Niekro's also carrying a small piece of sandpaper "contoured to fit a finger," according to second base ump Steve Palermo. When plate umpire Tim Tschida visits the mound to have a look, an emery board flies out of Niekro's pocket. He throws a slider that breaks the laws of physics. 3, 1987: Niekro's on the mound in Anaheim, pitching for the Twins against the Angels. Joe Niekro (pitcher, Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Astros, Yankees, Twins, 1967-1988)Īug. The problem, of course, was that all of Albert's bats were corked."ĥ. One that looked completely different - one that was autographed by Paul Released just a few weeks ago, former Belle teammate Omar Vizquel wroteĪbout the "Batgate" incident: "I can be naive at times, but I'm not stupid.Ĭertainly not stupid enough to steal Albert's corked bat and replace it with "I justīut the caper was easily found out - the faux Belle model Grimsley had put in Phillips locker had Paul Sorrento's "My heart was going 1,000 miles a second," said Grimsley. Locker room, dropped through an escape hatch, and replaced the corked model Grimsley wriggled through a crawl space above the ceiling above the umpires' The Indians knew it was corked, and set out to replace the bat, which Phillips had put in his locker. On July 15, 1994, Belle's bat was confiscated by umpire Dave Phillips after White Sox manager Gene Lamont voiced his suspicion that the bat was corked. Albert Belle (OF, DH, Indians, White Sox, Orioles, 1989-2000)Īlbert Belle reportedly used more cork than a vintner. "He only calls for the spitter when he needs it."Ĥ. Indians president Gabe Paul defended Perry: "Gaylord is a very honorable man," he said. Gene Tenace, who was Perry's catcher with the Padres, said the ball was sometimes so loaded he couldn't throw it back to the mound. In 1982, he became one of the very few pitchers to be suspended for doctoring the ball. He'd stand on the mound, touching his cap or his sleeve, either loading up the ball or trying to convince batters he was doing so. Perry, a Hall-of-Famer, compiled his 314-265 record on the wings of a Vaseline ball. Gaylord Perry (pitcher, Giants, Indians, Rangers, Padres, Yankees, Braves, Mariners, Royals, 1962-1983) "He uses every low and contemptible method that hisĮrratic brain can conceive to win a play by a dirty trick," wrote one reporter.ģ. Ward and Ken Burns in "Baseball: An Illustrated History," the 155-pound McGraw "held far bigger base runnersīack by the belt, blocked them, tripped them, spiked them - and rarely complained when they did the same to him." He was known to grab onto runnersīelts as they were rounding third, and grab the belt loops of runners tagging up at third. John McGraw (3B, SS, OF, Orioles, Cardinals, Giants, 1891-1906) Next pitch, and a relay man would signal it in to the hitter.Ģ. Then set off a bell or buzzer in the Giants bullpen that would identify the Past center field, and use a telescope to read the catcher's signs. Coach Herman Franks would sit in the Giants clubhouse, conveniently located "I'd have to say more no than yes," he said, then equivocated some more before finally saying that no, he didn'tīut there's no doubt that the Giants cheated. Lead the Dodgers had in August? Did Bobby Thomson know what Ralph Branca was throwing when he hit his "Shot heard around the world?" Those questions are unanswerable, even by Thomson, who exhibited Clintonesque qualities when questioned by the Wall Street Journal. Last year, the Giants admitted they had an elaborate sign-stealing system in place at the Polo Grounds in 1951. 1 cheater in baseball history.īobby Thomson is mobbed by his Giants' teammates after hitting the "shot heard 'round the world." And be sure to vote in the poll to crown the No. Take a look at our list, then read how our readers ranked the biggest cheaters of all time. This could also be called the worst cheaters because the best cheaters are the ones we don't know about who still haven't been caught. Biggest cheaters in baseballįew sports spawn as many cheaters as baseball, so presents the 10 biggest cheaters in baseball history.
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