Knuckleball

A knuckleball (or knuckler for short) is a baseball pitch thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. The lack of spin creates a chaotic airflow over the stitched seams of the baseball and produces an erratic, unpredictable motion. This makes the pitch difficult for batters to hit, but also difficult for pitchers to control. The challenge also extends to the catcher who must make an attempt to catch the pitch, and the umpire who must determine whether it was a strike or a ball.

Origins

The identity of the first pitcher to throw a knuckleball is uncertain, but it appears to have been developed in the early 20th century. 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 majors with him two years later. Since Cicotte had a much more successful career (and also gained later notoriety as one of the Black Sox), his name is the one most often associated with the invention of the pitch today.

Related Topics:
Lew "Hicks" Moren - Philadelphia Phillies - 1908 - Eddie Cicotte - 1906 - Majors - Black Sox

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