List of knuckleball pitchers

Last updated

Tim Wakefield throwing a knuckleball Wakefield Throws a Knuckleball.jpg
Tim Wakefield throwing a knuckleball

Knuckleball pitchers are baseball players who rely on the knuckleball as their primary pitch, or pitch primarily based on their ability to throw a knuckleball. The inventor of the knuckleball has never been established, although several pitchers from the early 20th century have been credited. Baseball statistician and historian Rob Neyer named four individuals in an article he wrote in the 2004 book The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers as potentially deserving credit, any of whom may have originated the pitch in either the 1907 or 1908 seasons. Nap Rucker of the Brooklyn Dodgers came up to the majors in 1907, initially throwing hard stuff but later switching to the knuckleball. A 1908 article credited Lew Moren as the inventor of the pitch. Ed Cicotte earned a full-time spot with the Detroit Tigers in 1908, earning the nickname "Knuckles" for his signature pitch. A picture of Ed Summers showed him gripping what he called a "dry spitter" using a variation of the knuckleball grip using the knuckles of his index and middle fingers. [1]

Contents

Unlike almost every other pitch in baseball, the knuckleball's erratic trajectory has often required teams to use dedicated catchers, often using specialized mitts, to field the deliveries. Clint Courtney used a specially constructed catcher's mitt, about 50% larger than the conventional mitts used at the time, to catch knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm during a game in May 1960. Umpire Al Smith credited the use of the glove with preventing three or four passed balls in that one game. [2] The lower velocity of the knuckleball is credited with giving some who use it the ability to pitch more often and to sustain pitching careers far longer than those who rely on their fastball to get outs. Tim Wakefield pitched on consecutive days, when most starting pitchers in the 21st century throw after four days of rest. Hoyt Wilhelm pitched until he was almost 50 and Phil Niekro used the pitch until he was 48. Wakefield retired at 45.

The prevalence of the knuckleballer has varied over time. The 1945 Washington Senators finished 1+12 games out of first place with a starting pitching staff that almost exclusively used the pitch, with four knuckleballers in the rotation. That season, the team's three catchers — regular catcher Rick Ferrell and backups Al Evans and Mike Guerra — combined for 40 passed balls, more than double that of any other team in the league. [3]

Baseball funnyman Bob Uecker, who was Phil Niekro's personal catcher with the Braves in 1967, has been quoted as saying "The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling, then go pick it up." [4]

Wilbur Wood, Joe Niekro, and R. A. Dickey have won The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award. In 2012, Dickey became the only knuckleballer to have won the Cy Young Award. Phil Niekro is the only knuckleball pitcher to win 300 games. [5]

Primary knuckleballers

The following lists knuckleball pitchers who are primarily known for throwing the knuckleball or those who established professional careers based on throwing the knuckleball. Individuals who threw the pitch occasionally or those who did not play professional baseball primarily as a pitcher are excluded. Major League Baseball career statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com.

Eddie Cicotte is credited as the inventor of the knuckleball. EddieCicotte55.jpg
Eddie Cicotte is credited as the inventor of the knuckleball.
Hoyt Wilhelm won 124 games in relief, the major league record, and was the first pitcher to reach 200 saves and the first to appear in 1,000 games. Hoyt Wilhelm 1959.png
Hoyt Wilhelm won 124 games in relief, the major league record, and was the first pitcher to reach 200 saves and the first to appear in 1,000 games.
R. A. Dickey reinvented his career by developing a knuckleball. R.A. Dickey.jpg
R. A. Dickey reinvented his career by developing a knuckleball.
Phil Niekro is the only knuckleballer to win 300 games. Phil Niekro 1982.jpg
Phil Niekro is the only knuckleballer to win 300 games.
Key
G Games pitched
W Career wins
L Career losses
SV Career saves
ERACareer earned run average
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
* Cy Young Award winner
Knuckleball pitchers
NameDebutFinalGWLSVERARef(s)BatsThrows
Gene Bearden 19471953193453813.96 [6] [7] LeftLeft
Danny Boone 19811990162143.36 [8] [9] LeftLeft
Jim Bouton 19621978304626363.57 [10] [11] RightRight
Wally Burnette 1956195868142113.56 [12] [13] RightRight
Tom Candiotti 1983199945115116403.73 [14] [15] RightRight
Eddie Cicotte 19051920502208149252.38 [3] [16] SwitchRight
R. A. Dickey *2001201740012011824.04 [17] [18] RightRight
Ryan Feierabend 200620213221207.21 [19] LeftLeft
Jared Fernández 20012006374705.05 [20] [21] RightRight
Eddie Fisher 195919736908070813.41 [22] RightRight
Freddie Fitzsimmons 19251943513217146133.51 [23] RightRight
Eddie Gamboa 2016201670201.35 [24] [25] [26] RightRight
Mickey Haefner 194319502617891133.50 [27] [28] LeftLeft
Charlie Haeger 20062010192716.35 [29] [30] RightRight
Jesse Haines 19181937555210158103.64 [31] [32] [33] RightRight
Charlie Hough 19701994858216216613.75 [34] [35] RightRight
Dutch Leonard 19331953640191181443.25 [36] [37] RightRight
Ted Lyons 19231946594260230233.67 [38] [39] SwitchRight
Lew Moren 19031910141485732.95 [1] [40] RightRight
Joe Niekro 19671988702221204163.59 [41] [42] RightRight
Phil Niekro 19641987864318274293.35 [43] [44] RightRight
Johnny Niggeling 19381945184646903.22 [45] [46] RightRight
Al Papai 194819558891445.37 [47] [48] RightRight
Bob Purkey 1954196638612911593.79 [49] [50] RightRight
Steve Sparks 19952004270597634.88 [51] [52] RightRight
Dennis Springer 19952002130244815.18 [53] RightRight
Ed Summers 19081912138684532.42 [54] RightRight
Eddie Rommel 19201932501171119303.54 [55] [56] RightRight
Tim Wakefield 19922011627200180224.41 [57] [58] RightRight
Matt Waldron 2023Present81304.35 [59] [60] RightRight
Hoyt Wilhelm 1952197210701431222272.52 [61] [62] RightRight
Roger Wolff 194119471825269133.41 [63] [64] RightRight
Wilbur Wood 19611978651164156573.24 [65] [66] RightLeft
Steven Wright 2013201981241603.41 [67] RightRight

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passed ball</span> Baseball statistic

In baseball, a catcher is charged with a passed ball when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball that, with ordinary effort, should have been maintained under his control, and, as a result of this loss of control, the batter or a runner on base advances. A runner who advances due to a passed ball is not credited with a stolen base unless he breaks for the base before the pitcher begins his delivery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoyt Wilhelm</span> American baseball player (1922–2002)

James Hoyt Wilhelm, nicknamed "Old Sarge", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers between 1952 and 1972. Wilhelm was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knuckleball</span> Baseball pitch

A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. This change adds a deflecting force to the baseball, making it difficult for batters to hit but also difficult for pitchers to control and catchers to catch; umpires are challenged as well, as the ball's irregular motion through the air makes it harder to call balls and strikes. A pitcher who throws knuckleballs is known as a knuckleballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Niekro</span> American baseball player (1939–2020)

Philip Henry Niekro, nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. Niekro is generally regarded as the greatest knuckleball pitcher of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Wakefield</span> American baseball player (1966–2023)

Timothy Stephen Wakefield was an American professional baseball knuckleball pitcher. Wakefield began his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is most remembered for his 17-year tenure with the Boston Red Sox, from 1995 until his retirement in 2012 as the longest-serving player on the team, earning a total of $55 million. When he retired at age 45 after 19 seasons in MLB, Wakefield was the oldest active player in the major leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catcher</span> Defensive position in baseball and softball played behind home plate, facing the field

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Charles Oliver Hough is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) knuckleball pitcher and coach who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Florida Marlins from 1970 to 1994.

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Charles Wallis Haeger was an American professional baseball player. He was one of the few knuckleball pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) during his career. He played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot at the Grand Canyon on October 3, 2020, shortly after the suspected murder of his ex-girlfriend.

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