Editing Burleigh Grimes (section)

==Early life==
Born in [[Emerald, Wisconsin]], Grimes was the first child of Cecil "Nick" Grimes, a farmer and former day laborer, and Ruth Tuttle, the daughter of a former Wisconsin legislator. Having previously played baseball for several local teams, Nick Grimes managed the Clear Lake Yellow Jackets and taught his son how to play the game early in life.<ref>Niese, p. 10.</ref> Burleigh Grimes also participated in boxing as a child.<ref>Niese, p. 12.</ref>

Grimes threw and batted right-handed, and was listed as {{convert|5|ft|10|in}} tall and {{convert|175|lb}}. He made his professional debut in 1912 for the [[Eau Claire Commissioners]] of the [[Minnesota–Wisconsin League]].<ref name="Russo 147"/><ref>Christofferson, Jason. ''Diamonds in Clear Water: Professional Baseball in Eau Claire, 1886–1912''. Self-published. 2013. p.143-155.</ref> From almost the beginning of his career, he threw a [[spitball]], using slippery elm to alter the baseball's face.<ref name="Russo 147"/> He played in [[Ottumwa, Iowa]], in 1913 for the [[Ottumwa Packers]] in the [[Central Association]].