Me and the Spitter.

It was the title of a paperback I read back in 1974 as a graduating eighth grader and a budding high school freshman.

Legendary pitcher Gaylord Perry highlighted how he “cheated” in the game by throwing a spitball and a Vasoline ball during his days as a journeyman hurler throughout both leagues. Yet, Perry won his 300th game as a Seattle Mariner at age 43 in 1982, and he was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Recently, the Mets’ Max Scherzer was suspended for 10 days when umpires determined that his glove and left hand was too sticky from a substance.

In this week’s version of my “Behind the Plate” column, I’ll take a look at some pitchers who were regarded as cheaters in the game - as well as a local team roundup, fantasy fill-ups and some other notes along the way.

What Was That Pitch? ... There has been a cavalcade of pitchers during our lifetime who have been accused or apprehended doctoring the baseball.

We all remember the Phillies’ Kevin Gross, who was caught with sandpaper in his glove in 1987. Gross had the gall to fasten a piece of sandpaper to the front of his glove. If you recall, Gross never lived up to his potential, as he posted a 60-66 record in seven years as a Phillie and had a 142-158 mark in 15 seasons with five clubs.

During that same year, the Astros’ Joe Nierko tried to get rid of a piece of sandpaper from his back pocket and managed to throw it on the ground behind him when umpires approached him. Niekro also had an emery board on him.

It was one of the game’s classic scenes with Niekro with his hands in the air.

Both Gross and Niekro were suspended 10 games.

A year later - if you remember - Dodgers’ reliever Jay Howell was ejected in the 1988 NL playoffs against the Mets when umpires noticed pine tar in his glove. Howell subsequently had to serve a three-day suspension, and his closer role was taken over by Orel Hershiser, who helped the team to the championship.

By the way, Hershiser and ex-Dodgers Don Sutton and Don Drysdale reportedly had thrown their share of illegal pitches.

In our time, Sutton was known for his “off-speed” stuff in the 70s, and he came up big against the Phillies in spots. He scattered nine hits in a complete-game, 7-1 victory over the Phillies and Jim Lonborg in the 1977 NLCS.

Can anyone think back to when Sutton played for the Brewers (1982-84) and Angels (1985-87)? It’s a foggy memory for me about the 23-veteran who finished his career with a one-year stay with the Dodgers in 1988 during their historic run that season. (Remember the Kirk Gibson home run and his limp around the bases?)

During the 2006 World Series, TV cameras noticed a “smudge” on Detroit Tigers’ pitcher left-hander Kenny Rogers’ throwing hand.

Umpires were notified, and Rogers was forced to clean the smudge off his hand or he would be ejected from the game. He complied to their request and threw eight scoreless innings in the Tigers’ victory. St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach Hal McRae called out Rogers for “using pine tar” and “scuffing the ball.”

From the 80s and beyond, there was Houston’s Mike Scott, who was caught a few times with “foreign subjects or objects (pro wrestling reference there), the Astros’ Dave Smith, and even ex-Phillie Larry Anderson, who has been mentioned in the same breath. There is a contention among veteran baseball people that Nolan Ryan had his share of scuffed pitches even with his laser-beam fastballs.

Some of the older timers other than us can think back to the days of Drysdale and the Yankees’ Whitey Ford, both who were believed to do something unorthodox with the baseball.

Before he passed, Ford admitted in an online interview that he cheated late in his career. He stated that he used his wedding ring, the catcher’s shinguard, and a belt buckle. Ford also made his own version of “gunk,” consisting of baby oil, turpentine, and resin.

Cubs’ and Rangers’ legendary pitcher Ferguson Jenkins also admitted serving up an occasional spitball. He had an overpowering fastball, but also had a dropping curveball that could make you wonder.

Do you think Tug McGraw’s “screwball” was ever doctored? I doubt it, but it does make you wonder. How many of you remember his “Scroogie” comic strip in 1976?

Fantasy Files and a Roundup ... This week, the Phillies have the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros on the schedule, both of whom have strong pitching staffs. They are starting to piece it together with an 11-12 record.

A good play here would be outfielder Brandon Marsh, who had a hot stick last week, along with second baseman Bryson Stott, whose stock is rising. Outfielder Nick Castellanos and third baseman/DH Alec Bohm are still my season favorites. Shortstop Trea Turner has been steady with his hitting, but look for him to start generating some power after he finally hit his first home run of the season. Catcher J.T. Realmuto is a steady force.

Speaking of homers, the Mets’ Pete Alonso recently took over the league lead before the Dodgers’ Max Muncy went ahead on Sunday with his 11th. The Mets have Washington at the beginning of the week, and then have an early showdown with Atlanta, which will be a measuring stick. The Metropolitans were surging at 14-8 before Sunday night’s contest with the Giants.

Jeff McNeil always is a favorite of mine, and you can’t go wrong with average hovering around the .300 mark or better. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo could be on the verge of a breakout with a good weekend against the Giants.

The Yankees will face Minnesota and Texas this week, and the Twins can still be a surprise team this season.

Pitcher Gerrit Cole is living up to his expectations with a dazzling 4-0 start. Fellow hurler Domingo German can be a play this week, and he has the talent to find his groove. Otherwise, the Yanks’ staff aren’t good pickups.

Infielder extraordinaire D.J. LeMahieu is struggling, but he is bound to break out of his slump. Center fielder Isaiah Kiner-Falafa may make the move back to shortstop with rookie Anthony Volpe struggling there.

Somehow, the Yanks don’t look good on paper, but they’ve managed a 13-9 record.

Final thoughts ... Baseball will enter Week Four with 21 of the 30 teams with double-digit victories. Tampa Bay is 19-3 with a run-differential of plus-88, and the Oakland A’s are 4-18 with a run differential of minus-103.

Tampa Bay had the biggest lead with a 4.5-game edge over Baltimore, and the rest of the division leaders were 2.5 or less games.

Call it parity, and it has been interesting.

Nostalgia ... On this date 50 years ago in 1973, the Phillies were 7-7, the Yankees were 6-9, and the Mets (World Series bound) were 8-7. This year also was the first for the American League’s designated hitter with the Yankees’ Ron Blomberg the first one.

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