Former Tigers ace Justin Verlander is among several major-league pitchers who have been accused of using a grip concoction engineered and widely distributed by a fired Los Angeles Angels staffer.
Several Tigers pitchers allegedly began inquiring about the so-called "sticky stuff" as far back as 2005, after being told about it by new Tiger and longtime Angels closer Troy Percival, according to filings in California state court Thursday.
That year, 2005, was the rookie season for Verlander, who has been using the foreign substance "for years," according to the former Angels employee.
"Tiger players visiting the Angels clubhouse began asking me to prepare it for them and that Percival told them I knew how," Brian Harkins, the fired Angeles employee, wrote in a declaration as part of his lawsuit against the Angels and Major League Baseball.