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About Knuckleball

A knuckleball is a type of pitch used in baseball. It undergoes very little spin as it travels toward the plate and exhibits unpredictable movement. Although it is not nearly as common as other pitches, such as the fastball or curveball, there are several famous pitchers who have used knuckleballs successfully, including Jesse Hains, Jim Niekro and Phil Niekro. The knuckleball is an incredibly difficult pitch to perfect and, as such, pitchers who develop it successfully tend to use it almost exclusively.

History
- The invention of the knuckleball is often credited to two different pitchers. Lew "Hicks" Moren, who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, is often credited with the knuckleball's invention in 1906, though some baseball historians believe it was actually Eddie Cicotte who developed the pitch while in the minor leagues in Indianapolis, says Absolute Astronomy. It is said he brought the pitch to the major leagues in 1908.
Throwing a Knuckleball
- Pitchers typically hold the ball between the fingertips and thumb of their pitching arm. The trick in throwing a knuckleball is to throw it so that there is very little spin on the ball. A typical ball rotates several times as it travels toward the plate. An ideal knuckleball will only rotate 1 to 1-1/2 times between the pitcher's mound and the plate. Because the ball rotates more slowly, it is more affected by air currents as they travel over the stitched seams of the ball. The drag results in an erratic trajectory and a flutter that makes it difficult to predict which way the ball will go.
Catching a Knuckleball
- Knuckleballs are one of the most difficult pitches for catchers to catch; add to this the fact that batters often miss them. Many catchers switch to a larger mitt when facing a pitcher known for throwing knuckleballs to help them catch more balls. Some teams even call in a different catcher to handle knuckleball pitchers.
Hitting a Knuckleball
- A batter facing a knuckleball needs to decide if he can afford to let the pitch go or if he has to try and hit it. If he has less than two strikes, he could afford to let it go, however, if the pitcher is known for throwing mainly knuckleballs, he will probably end up getting more knuckleballs in future pitches. For a batter who decides he needs to try for the knuckleball, he should move to the top of the batter's box and wait for the ball to come to him, rather than leaning forward to anticipate the ball. Keeping his eyes on the ball even as it makes contact with the bat is critical because knuckleballs tend to shift erratically at the last moment.

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