What's the fastest knuckleball ever thrown?

Publish date: 2023-04-05

Dickey's 102-mph knuckleball

R.A. Dickey is already known for throwing a very hard knuckleball, tossing his dancing, moving, grooving pitch up in the high 70s, occasionally even getting it into the low 80s, compared to the other knucklers who throw the pitch in the 60s.

How fast is the average knuckleball?

Since it typically only travels 60 to 70 miles per hour (97 to 113 km/h), far slower than the average major league fastball 85 to 95 miles per hour (137 to 153 km/h), it can be hit very hard if there is no movement.

How fast is Tim Wakefield's knuckleball?

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.

Who threw the best knuckleball?

1) Phil Niekro (1964-87)

He was a five-time All-Star, led his league in wins twice and won one ERA title and strikeout crown. Niekro's knuckleball let him pitch until he was 48 years old.

Are there any knuckleballers?

The knuckleball pitcher has vanished from the major leagues, an artifact like paper tickets and contact hitters. Of the 617 men to throw a pitch in the majors this season through Wednesday, according to Fangraphs, only four have thrown a knuckleball — and all four were position players.

32 related questions found

What pitch is illegal in baseball?

This seems to meet the definition of "illegal pitch" in the MLB rulebook, which reads, "An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate; (2) a quick return pitch. An illegal pitch when runners are on base is a balk."

Did Tim Wakefield throw a no hitter?

It's pretty distressing when 42-year-old Wakefield is pitching the best of the Sox bullpen. At 2-6, the BoSox needed someone to step up, and Wakefield was surprisingly that guy. He took a no-hitter into the eighth, while pitching a complete game, as the Sox went on to beat the A's, 8-2.

How fast is a slider?

This movement is created because the ball will rotate with a combination of side spin and gyro (or bullet) spin. Sliders are also usually thrown faster than a curveball and are roughly 6 to 10 mph off the fastball.

Are knuckle balls hard to hit?

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.

Do knuckleballs move?

While most pitchers control their throws by putting in a touch of spin, knuckleball pitchers spin the ball as little as possible. The result is a slower-moving pitch that zig-zags erratically from left to right—the likes of which can throw off even the most experienced batters, Jennifer Ouellette reports for Gizmodo.

Who invented the knuckleball?

Toad Ramsey invented the knuckleball.

Can a kid throw a knuckleball?

A kid can learn to throw a knuckler and use it as a terrific change-up, although his knuckler and that thrown by a professional pitcher will behave differently. A youth's hand is smaller than a Major Leaguer's and the grip is all-important.

How does R.A. Dickey hold his knuckleball?

Dickey digs into the leather with the nails of his index and middle fingers just behind the runway, where the ball's seams are closest together; he places his thumb and ring finger on the sides of the ball. He keeps his nails even with a fine-tooth glass file and strong with the nail-hardening product Trind.

Where is Tim Wakefield now?

Wakefield was named Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation in 2013. Beyond his charity work, Wakefield has been a part of NESN's Red Sox coverage since 2012, serving as a studio analyst. He splits time between Boston and Florida with his wife Stacy. The couple has two children.

Who was Tim Wakefield's personal 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. He was part of the Red Sox' World Series championship teams in 2004 and 2007.

Who throws a knuckleball in MLB 2021?

Knuckleballer Mickey Jannis Making His MLB Debut at Age 33 Is So Cool.

Is Tim Wakefield a Hall of Famer?

By all accounts, Tim is one of the game's nicest players and a true ambassador of the game. He has also played for almost 20 seasons in Major League Baseball. However, a quick glance at his player page on Baseball-Reference.com will show you that he is not a Hall of Famer, and it's not even close.

What is the rarest pitch?

screwball. A screwball is a breaking ball designed to move in the opposite direction of just about every other breaking pitch. It is one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, mostly because of the tax it can put on a pitcher's arm.

What is doctoring a baseball?

Definition. No player is permitted to intentionally damage, deface or discolor the baseball by rubbing it with any type of foreign item or substance, including dirt or saliva. Failure to follow this rule will result in an ejection and an automatic 10-game suspension.

Can a MLB pitcher throw underhand?

An MLB umpire confirmed pitching underhand is allowed.

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