Yup, lack of spin makes the knuckleball such a curious beastie. Ambient air movement strongly affects it. Not every afternoon/evening’s atmosphere is conducive to effective knuck tossing, as every pitcher thereof will sadly/bitterly concur.
During a long car ride when I was a kid, we listened to the godly Ernie Harwell’s call of a Detroit Tigers’ game vs one of the Brothers Niekro. Mr Harwell really was amazing. His radio skills allowed us to “see” every one of Niekro’s bizarrely behaved knuckleballs almost as well as a televised game.
@kthejoker is typin’ the truth. Knuckleball is a great film. The film Fastball is also worth fans’ time. Screwball is a weird and wonderful docco that made me realize I could hate steroids and alex rodriguez much more than I already did. I adored Ken Burns’ Baseball (plus the Extra Innings!), but for decades I studied the game like a scholar.
@euansmith - Baseball isn’t quite the same as the rounders kids play across The Pond. It’s a strange and strangely satisfying pastime. There are many types of pitches: curves, change ups (an off-speed pitch often thrown when the pitcher hopes the batter expects a fastball), sliders, forkballs, screwballs, the legendary Eephus, etc etc. Some pitchers invent their own, like Aníbal Sánchez’ butterfly. There are also various arm positions for delivery methods: (straight) overhand, three-quarters, near sidearm & sidearm…there are even a few submariners who throw underhand, or as near as dammit.
Some knuckleballers have catchers who accompany them whenever/wherever they are traded. Catchers risk acquiring broken fingers and bruises when working with knuckleballers; while normally a brave and hardy lot, some fear/hate the pitch and refuse to catch those who throw them.
I’ve long loved knuckleballs and the weirdos who throw them, thanks to devouring Ball Four by Jim Bouton when I was 10. It taught me more about the game than any other baseball book I’ve read. It’s among American Literature’s finest works, tho some bits are unsuitable fare for most 10 yr olds.
