Having thrown baseball’s second perfect game keeps John Ward’s name alive. But the pitcher, shortstop, golfer, lawyer, activist and author was decades ahead of his time.
A popular first baseman who had a season in each league as the home run leader, McGriff was elected by a committee that rejected Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
He won 314 games and recorded 3,500 strikeouts, but he’s remembered as much for his acknowledged spitball, with saliva just one substance in his arsenal.