Knuckleball

A pitch thrown with the fingernails against the seams of the baseball (so named because the batter can see the pitcher's knuckles as the ball is thrown, not because the knuckles are against the ball) so as to minimize backspin. A ball thrown in this manner travels at low speed and darts unpredictably, making it very difficult to hit.

The pitch is easy to learn but more difficult to master; Hall of Fame pitchers Hoyt Wilhelm and Phil Niekro utilized it to great success, as did Niekro's brother, Joe Niekro and Black Soxer Eddie Cicotte. One of the pitches advantages is that is not hard on the arm and some pitchers (such as Jim Bouton) have had some success as knuckleballers after losing their more traditional stuff. This also means pitchers can throw more innings than orthodox pitchers. During the 1945, with talent depleted by call-ups to fight in World War 2, the Washington Senators had a pitching rotation which included four knuckleball pitchers Dutch Leonard (36 years old), Johnny Niggeling (41), Mickey "Itsy Bitsy" Haefner (32) and Roger Wolff, who combined for 60 complete games and 60 wins, carrying the Senators to second place.