\Spit ball\ (Baseball)
A pitched ball in throwing which the pitcher grips the ball
between two, or three, fingers on one side (which is made
slippery, as by saliva) and the thumb on the other side, and
delivers it so that it slips off the fingers with the least
possible friction. When pitched directly overhand a spit ball
darts downward, when pitched with the arm extended sidewise
it darts down and out. [Cant] -- {Spit baller}.