Allen Pope Sturgeon (1867-1932) - Find a Grave Memorial

Baseball Figure. Though thousands of baseball fans throughout the country believe that Jack Chesbro discovered the spitball, and others contend that the saliva delivery was originated by Elmer Strickleet, still others credit Pope Sturgeon as the inventor. He discovered the spitball in the early 1880s and had completely mastered the delivery when he joined the Little Nicols, the fastest amateur nine in St. Louis in 1883. With his mysterious spitter, he won 106 consecutive games for the Little Nicols before losing a single contest. He remained with the team from 1883 until 1887, when he pitched a game against the world’s champion Browns of 1887 and defeated the by a score of 2 to 0. In 1888 he joined a local semi-pro team that made exhibition tours throughout the country during the summer months, and during the entire tour he never lost a game. Semi-professional baseball was at the height of its popularity throughout the United States when he left the Little Nicols in1888 and for the next five seasons he was one of the most eagerly sought pitchers in the country. During that time, he played with whatever team made the highest bid for his services and many of the historic contests of the late 1880s and early 1890s were pitched and won by Sturgeon who lined up with such famous teams as the Hudsons. Throughout the season of 1893 he pitched for the Lebanon, Illinois Club and emerged victorious in every game played. In 1894, the famous hurle joined the Marquette Club of St. Louis and pitched against the strongest amateur and semi-pro teams of Missouri and Illinois, winning every game. Through the season of 1895 he played on Sundays only as a member of the Valley Park Club. He lost but one game during the season he was with Valley Park. He decided to devote all his time to his banking interests in 1896 and quit the national pastime becoming associated with Merchants-Laclede National Bank of St. Louis.

Bio by: Connie Nisinger