Knuckleball!

When this documentary Knuckleball was made only Tim Wakefield and RA Dickey were making their primary pitch the knuckleball. This domentary focuses on them with some reference to others of the past. Both Charlie Hough and Jim Bouton make appearances as well.

When I was a kid when you talked knuckleball you talke of Hoyt Wilhelm who was the number one relief pitcher pitcher of the New York Giants and was playing for the Baltimore Orioles when I started following the sport.

The knuckler which is thrown off the tips of your fingers floats rather than spins toward the plate. I behaves unpredictably for hitters and just as bad for catchers. I well remember that the Orioles first string catcher Gus Triandos couldn't deal with it. Oriole manager Paul Richards used their number 2 catcher Joe Ginsberg when Wilhelm as on the mound. They also developed an oversized catcher's mitt later banned.

With less strain on the arm knuckleball pitchers have lengthy careers for the most part. The downside is that they are used primarily in relief and can't run up Hall of Fame stats.

In this story the climax focused on Tim Wakefield in 2011 going for his 200 career win. At the ge of 45 and the oldest player in Major League basebll it was a struggle, Wakefield retired after that leaving RA Dickey of the Mets the only knuckleball pitcher in the Majors.

Both Wakefield and Dickey come off as fine athletes and a credit to the game.

Recommended for baseball fans everywhere.