Twenty years ago, Wakefield became a knuckleball pitcher, not a pitcher who throws a knuckleball. To the proud Wakefield, there is a major distinction between those descriptions. Wakefield is a knuckleball pitcher and has been ever since he stopped fooling around. “It was my only option,” he said.
Who first threw a knuckleball?
Eddie Cicotte is credited as the inventor of the knuckleball. R. A. Dickey reinvented his career by developing a knuckleball. Phil Niekro is the only knuckleballer to win 300 games.
When was the first knuckleball thrown?
Lew “Hicks” Moren of the Philadelphia Phillies was credited as its inventor by the New York Press in 1908. However, Eddie Cicotte apparently also came up with the pitch while at Indianapolis in 1906, and brought it to the major leagues with him two years later.
How fast did Tim Wakefield throw his knuckleball?
59-62 mph
Wakefield also featured a 71–75 mph fastball, a slow curve (57-61 mph), and a slower version of his knuckleball (59-62 mph). Knuckleball pitchers are traditionally believed to be able to pitch more frequently and for more pitches per game than conventional pitchers.
What pitches did Tim Wakefield throw?
Pitch Repertoire At-A-Glance
In 2011, they relied primarily on their Knuckleball (66mph), also mixing in a Fourseam Fastball (73mph). He also rarely threw a Curve (61mph). In 2011, compared to other RHP: His knuckleball flutters and floats unpredictably toward the plate.
Who has the best knuckleball ever?
- 1) Phil Niekro (1964-87) 318-274; 3.35 ERA; 3,342 K; 5,404 IP.
- 2) Hoyt Wilhelm (1952-72) 143-122; 228 SV; 2.52 ERA; 1,610 K; 2,254 1/3 IP.
- 3) Tim Wakefield (1992-2011)
- 4) Charlie Hough (1970-94)
- 5) R.A. Dickey (2001-17)
- 6) Eddie Cicotte (1905-20)
- 7) Wilbur Wood (1961-78)
- 8) Dutch Leonard (1933-53)
Is knuckleball the hardest pitch to throw?
Although knuckleballs come to the plate at a much lower velocity than the average pitch, they can be among the hardest pitches to hit because they move so erratically. (They are also among the hardest pitches for catchers to catch and for umpires to call.)
Who made the knuckleball famous?
Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Additionally, Ted Lyons, another member of the Hall of Fame, relied heavily on the knuckleball after injuring his arm in 1931.
Does knuckleball hurt arm?
No, it really shouldn’t. However, this is only true if you throw it correctly meaning that your arm motions do not change. The only way that I’ve heard you could hurt yourself throwing the knuckleball is by shot-putting the ball.
Who invented the knuckleball free kick?
The 1950s Brazilian star Didi is thought to have invented this technique, and used it frequently when taking free kicks, which were known as folha seca (“dry” or “dead leaf,” in Portuguese) free kicks.
What is the fastest knuckleball ever recorded?
Dickey’s 102-mph knuckleball
Sure, you could say that this was a result of a faulty radar gun, and that’s possible. Is it not also possible that Dickey, doing some dark incantation as he surely must before every pitch, accidentally tore open a hole in the space time continuum, allowing for 102 mph pitches?
Who is the king of knuckleball in football?
Footballing legend, five time Balon d’Or winner, and current Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been a prolific free-kick taker over the course of his sparkling career with 53 free kick goals to his name, frequently using a “knuckleball” technique — a term taken from baseball.
Why is catching a knuckleball hard?
A knuckleball is famously difficult to throw, hit and catch because of its erratic behavior. It seems to fly through the air with no spin and then break suddenly in any direction. The ball’s seams are key to this behavior.
When did Tim Wakefield start throwing knuckleball?
By his second season, Wakefield had begun the transformation from a floundering hitter to an apprentice knuckleball pitcher. The transformation was steady, then superlative, then stagnant, then steady, remarkably steady, in the last 15 seasons with Boston.
What pitch is Tim Wakefield known for?
knuckleball pitch
Best known for his signature knuckleball pitch, Wakefield started his major league career in 1992 with Pittsburgh for two years, and then spent the next 17 seasons with the Red Sox. He was one of only five American League pitchers to start at least one game in 17 consecutive seasons for the same team.
Who was Tim Wakefield’s favorite catcher?
Mirabelli was a career . 231 hitter with 58 home runs and 206 runs batted in in 566 games. While with the Red Sox, he was well known as the personal catcher for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.
What is the hardest pitch to hit?
Each baseball player has their own specialties. However, the two pitches that stand out to be the hardest to hit are the splitter and the slider. This conclusion is backed by research that has been done to detect the whiff rate for various pitches.
Do any pitchers throw a Palmball?
Notable pitchers who have been known to throw the palmball include Ray Sadecki, Steve Farr, Robinson Tejeda, Ed Whitson Edwar Ramírez, Dave Giusti, Bob Stanley, Orlando Hernández, Mark Williamson, John Holdzkom, Randy Martz, reliever Tony Fiore, Bryn Smith, and 1990s reliever Joe Boever.
Is a knuckleball an effective pitch?
The tightknit knuckleball community includes Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey and two-time World Series champion Tim Wakefield. They showed that, if mastered, the pitch is one of the most effective in baseball, nearly impossible to hit.
What pitches are illegal in baseball?
An illegal pitch may be quick pitch (i.e. a pitch made before the batter is properly set in the batter’s box), a pitch made while the pitcher is not in contact with the pitching rubber, or one in which he takes an extra step while making his delivery.
What is the hardest throw ever?
As far as the technology of the time could tell us, Nolan Ryan threw a 100 mph fastball. Randy Johnson was clocked as high as 102. Bob Feller may have hit 104 in his day, although we only have some creative science experiments to rely on for that figure.