Antedating of "Screwball"

[Fred Shapiro]

screwball (OED 1928)

1919 _Chronicle Telegram_ (Elyria, Ohio) 14 July 6 (Newspaperarchive)
His [Carl Mays's] best ball is known among the members of the Red Sox as
the screw ball, which is a new one.  It is so called because it is alleged
to twist as do the threads of a screw.

Fred Shapiro

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