List of knuckleball pitchers explained

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 or 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.

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.^[1] 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 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.^[2]

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."^[3]

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.

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.

Key

G	Games pitched
W	Career wins
L	Career losses
SV	Career saves
ERA	Career earned run average
	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Cy Young Award winner

Knuckleball pitchers

Name	Debut	Final	G	W	L	SV	ERA	Ref(s)	Bats	Throws
	1947	1953	193	45	38	1	3.96	^[4] ^[5]	Left	Left
	1981	1990	16	2	1	4	3.36	^[6] ^[7]	Left	Left
	1962	1978	304	62	63	6	3.57	^[8] ^[9]	Right	Right
	1956	1958	68	14	21	1	3.56	^[10] ^[11]	Right	Right
	1983	1999	451	151	164	0	3.73	^[12] ^[13]	Right	Right
	1905	1920	502	208	149	25	2.38	^[14]	Switch	Right
	2001	2017	400	120	118	2	4.04	^[15] ^[16]	Right	Right
	2006	2021	32	2	12	0	7.21	^[17]	Left	Left
	2001	2006	37	4	7	0	5.05	^[18] ^[19]	Right	Right
	1959	1973	690	80	70	81	3.41	^[20]	Right	Right
	1925	1943	513	217	146	13	3.51	^[21]	Right	Right
	2016	2016	7	0	2	0	1.35	^[22] ^[23] ^[24]	Right	Right
	1943	1950	261	78	91	13	3.50	^[25] ^[26]	Left	Left
	2006	2010	19	2	7	1	6.35	^[27] ^[28]	Right	Right
	1918	1937	555	210	158	10	3.64	^[29] ^[30] ^[31]	Right	Right
	1970	1994	858	216	216	61	3.75	^[32] ^[33]	Right	Right
	1933	1953	640	191	181	44	3.25	^[34] ^[35]	Right	Right
	1923	1946	594	260	230	23	3.67	^[36] ^[37]	Switch	Right
	1903	1910	141	48	57	3	2.95	^[38] ^[39]	Right	Right
	1967	1988	702	221	204	16	3.59	^[40] ^[41]	Right	Right
	1964	1987	864	318	274	29	3.35	^[42] ^[43]	Right	Right
	1938	1945	184	64	69	0	3.22	^[44] ^[45]	Right	Right
	1948	1955	88	9	14	4	5.37	^[46] ^[47]	Right	Right
	1954	1966	386	129	115	9	3.79	^[48] ^[49]	Right	Right
	1995	2004	270	59	76	3	4.88	^[50] ^[51]	Right	Right
	1995	2002	130	24	48	1	5.18	^[52]	Right	Right
	1908	1912	138	68	45	3	2.42	^[53]	Right	Right
	1920	1932	501	171	119	30	3.54	^[54] ^[55]	Right	Right
	1992	2011	627	200	180	22	4.41	^[56] ^[57]	Right	Right
	2023	Present	8	1	3	0	4.35	^[58] ^[59]	Right	Right
	1952	1972	1070	143	122	227	2.52	^[60] ^[61]	Right	Right
	1941	1947	182	52	69	13	3.41	^[62] ^[63]	Right	Right
	1961	1978	651	164	156	57	3.24	^[64] ^[65]	Right	Left
	2013	2019	81	24	16	0	3.41	^[66]	Right	Right

See also

• Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
• Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
• Cy Young Award

Further reading

• The (Mostly) Complete List of Knuckleball Pitchers lists approximately 85 pitchers, based on Rob Neyer's definition, which includes anybody "who would not have been in the majors without his knuckleball, or whose knuckleball was considered his best pitch, at least for a time." An additional 85 or so pitchers are listed as having "Used the Knuckleball as a Regular Pitch", which includes those who didn't make the first list but "regularly tossed up a knuckler as part of their standard repertoire." Both lists include a handful of non-pitchers who used the knuckleball in some extremely limited circumstances.
• Project Knuckleball. McGrath. Ben. 2004-05-17. The New Yorker. 2019-04-01. en. 0028-792X.

Notes and References

1. Effrat, Louis. "Wilhelm Scores Over Ditmar, 3–2 - Breeding and Woodling Bat In Oriole Runs in 5th to Conquer Yankees", New York Times, May 28, 1960. Accessed May 4, 2009.
2. Bolster, John. "The Dying Art of the Knuckleball", Sports Illustrated, June 27, 2008. Accessed April 14, 2009.
3. Sullivan, Paul. "Will knuckleballers become extinct? Unlikely anytime soon", Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2015. Accessed October 15, 2017. "While he was glad to discuss the subject, McCarver doesn't think the lack of knuckleballers today means anything. 'There were never a lot of them,' he said. 'There are a couple in the Hall of Fame. It's a hard pitch to control, a hard pitch to catch, a hard pitch to hit. But as (former catcher) Bob Uecker used to say, "The best way to catch a knuckleball is wait until it stops rolling and pick it up."'"
4. News: Tigers purchase Gene Bearden. Eugene Register-Guard. April 27, 1951. 6.
5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beardge01.shtml Gene Bearden
6. Boswell, Thomas. "Daniel Boone's kin pitching for Orioles", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 31, 1990. Accessed April 14, 2009.
7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/booneda02.shtml Danny Boone
8. https://www.nytimes.com/1970/12/06/archives/twelve-books-of-1970.html "Twelve Books of 1970"
9. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boutoji01.shtml Jim Bouton
10. Effrat, Louis. "Bomber's 14-Hit Assault Helps Sturdivant Rout Athletics, 10–1; Mantle Poles 19th Homer of Year for Yanks in 8th - Bauer Extends Streak Single Scores Berra First-Inning Dispute", New York Times, June 15, 1957. Accessed April 13, 2009.
11. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burnewa01.shtml Wally Burnette
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020024954/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74755632.html?dids=74755632:74755632&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+04,+1991&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Dodgers+Sign+Candiotti,+Hershiser%3B+Moves+Come+as+Morgan+Departs+for+Cubs,+$12.5+Million+Deal&pqatl=google "Dodgers Sign Candiotti, Hershiser; Moves Come as Morgan Departs for Cubs, $12.5 Million Deal"
13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/candito01.shtml Tom Candiotti
14. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cicoted01.shtml Eddie Cicotte
15. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2004474184_marinotes13.html "Notebook | R. A. Dickey knuckles way into rotation"
16. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dicker.01.shtml R.A. Dickey
17. Web site: Ryan Feierabend Brought the Knuckleball Back to the Majors. 2020-10-05. FanGraphs Baseball. 20 May 2019 .
18. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020024939/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/149357931.xml?dids=149357931:149357931&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+15,+2002&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Glavine,+Smoltz+Stop+Giants,+1-0&pqatl=google "Glavine, Smoltz Stop Giants, 1–0"
19. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fernaja01.shtml Jared Fernandez
20. News: Tramel. Berry. Foes Knuckled Under to Eddie Fisher. 21 August 2016. The Oklahoman. August 16, 2008.
21. Web site: Freddie Fitzsimmons . 9 November 2024. Society for American Baseball Research.
22. Web site: Hill. Benjamin. Knuckleball gives Gamboa new life. MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. April 26, 2013. October 5, 2020.
23. Web site: Berg. Ted. Is Orioles minor league knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa the next R. A. Dickey?. July 1, 2013. ftw.usatoday.com. USA Today. October 5, 2020.
24. News: Kuttler. Hillel. A Fluttering Boost to Flickering Hopes. The New York Times. August 12, 2013. D4. October 5, 2013.
25. News: Haefner Awaits Waivers – Still on Senators' Suspended List as White Sox Seek Him. New York Times. Associated Press. July 16, 1949. 9. April 13, 2009.
26. News: Mickey Haefner. Baseball-Reference.com. May 4, 2009.
27. Van Dyck, Dave. "Strained groin could keep Thome on bench", Chicago Tribune, June 3, 2006. Accessed April 13, 2009.
28. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haegech01.shtml Charlie Haeger
29. http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=115314 Jesse Haines
30. McGowen, Deane. "Jesse Haines, Pitcher, Dies at 85; Hall of Famer Won 210 Games; Known for Knuckleball", New York Times, August 7, 1978. Accessed April 13, 2009.
31. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haineje01.shtml Jesse Haines
32. [Tim Kurkjian|Kurkjian, Tim]
33. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/houghch01.shtml Charlie Hough
34. https://web.archive.org/web/20071105072940/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,803312,00.html "Streetcar Series"
35. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leonadu02.shtml Dutch Leonard
36. Amore, Dom. "Two Minors In History; Astros, White Sox: Forgettable Pasts", Hartford Courant, October 21, 2005. Accessed April 13, 2009.
37. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morenle01.shtml Ted Lyons
38. [Bill James|James, Bill]
39. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lyonste01.shtml Lew Moren
40. Goldstein, Richard. "Joe Niekro, a Master of the Knuckleball, Is Dead at 61", New York Times, October 29, 2006. Accessed April 13, 2009.
41. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrjo01.shtml Joe Niekro
42. http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=119786 Phil Niekro
43. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrph01.shtml Phil Niekro
44. News: Fullerton. Hugh Jr.. Sports Roundup. Associated Press. Prescott Evening Courier – via newspapers.com. January 16, 1948. section 2, page 1. September 23, 2021.
45. Web site: Johnny Niggeling. Baseball-Reference.com. May 6, 2009.
46. Bettendorf, Elizabeth. "Pitcher Papai Made Batters Knuckle Under", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 28, 1993. Page F2. Accessed April 13, 2009.
47. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/papaial01.shtml?redir Al Papai
48. http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2008/03/18/Knuckleballer-Bob-Purkey-dead-at-78/UPI-44021205868462/ "Knuckleballer Bob Purkey Dead at 78"
49. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/purkebo01.shtml Bob Purkey
50. Borzi, Pat. "Clemens Not Enough For Sox - Milwaukee's Knuckleballer Steve Sparks Stymies The Stumbling Red Sox, 9–1.", Maine Sunday Telegram, June 18, 1995. Accessed April 13, 2009.
51. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sparkst01.shtml Steve Sparks
52. Web site: Dennis Springer Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. July 6, 2015.
53. Web site: Wabash Men in History: Kickapoo Ed Summers. Wabash.edu . November 10, 2024.
54. Web site: Deale. Tim. Eddie Rommel. Society for American Baseball Research. September 23, 2021.
55. News: Ed Rommel Dies; Pitching Star, 72 – Worked as Umpire 22 Years After 12 With Athletics. The New York Times. Associated Press. August 28, 1970. 27. September 23, 2021.
56. News: Oh So Close For Wakefield: Knuckleballer's No-hit Effort Stopped In 9th. Dallas Morning News. Associated Press. June 20, 2001. April 13, 2009.
57. Web site: Tim Wakefield. Baseball-Reference.com. May 11, 2021.
58. News: Knuckleballer to make MLB debut vs. Nats. AJ Cassavell. June 23, 2023.
59. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/waldrma01.shtml Matt Waldron
60. http://baseballhall.org/hof/wilhelm-hoyt Hoyt Wilhelm
61. via Baseball-Reference.com. Hoyt Wilhelm. Accessed October 9, 2011.
62. News: Truman To Toss First Ball Today – President Sets Record as Only White House Southpaw for Senators-Red Sox Opening. The New York Times. Associated Press. April 16, 1946. 35. April 13, 2009.
63. Web site: Roger Wolff. Baseball-Reference.com. July 2, 2010.
64. Smith, Tim Alan. "Wilbur Wood, Knuckleballer", Sports Illustrated, December 24, 2001. Accessed April 13, 2009.
65. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodwi01.shtml Wilbur Wood
66. Web site: Steven Wright Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. July 6, 2015.