The Knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction — and even corkscrew — in mid-flight. This makes the pitch difficult for batters to hit, but also difficult for pitchers to control. The challenge also extends to the catcher, who must at least attempt to catch the pitch, and the umpire, who must determine whether the pitch was a strike or ball.

The pitch was invented by a Phillie named Lew Moren in 1906.

Quotes on the knuckleball

• “You don’t catch a knuckleball, you defend against it.” ? Dodgers manager and former catcher Joe Torre
• “Trying to hit Phil Niekro is like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks“. ? All-star outfielder Bobby Murcer
• “I never worry about it. I just take my three swings and go sit on the bench. I’m afraid if I ever think about hitting it, I’ll mess up my swing for life.” ? All-star first baseman Dick Allen
• “I always thought the knuckleball was the easiest pitch to catch. Wait’l it stops rolling, then go to the backstop and pick it up.” ? broadcaster and former catcher Bob Uecker
• “There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball. Unfortunately, neither of them works.” ? famed hitting coach Charlie Lau
• “You know, catching the knuckleball, it’s like trying to catch a fly with a chopstick.” ? catcher Jason Varitek
• “If it’s high, let it fly. If it’s low, let it go.” ?Common saying describing how to approach hitting the knuckleball.
• “Throwing a knuckleball for a strike is like throwing a butterfly with hiccups across the street into your neighbor’s mailbox.” ? Hall of Famer Willie Stargell
• “For a knuckleballer, a pitch count of 150 is not a problem. Unless it’s the first inning.” ? Dave Clark
• “Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in the big leagues… Not only can’t pitchers control it, hitters can’t hit it, catchers can’t catch it, coaches can’t coach it, and most pitchers can’t learn it. The perfect pitch.” ? Ron Luciano, former AL umpire
• “Hitting Niekro’s knuckleball is like eating soup with a fork.” ? Richie Hebner
• “You’re not expected to hit it. [I am] expected to catch it.” ? John Flaherty summing up his day catching Tim Wakefield in a spring training game against the Twins by relaying a comment made by fellow catcher Mike Redmond. Flaherty retired the next day.
• “Knuckleballs suck.” ? Geno Petralli after giving up four passed balls in one inning