The typical motion of a pitcher

In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed in baseball until 1884. Image File history File links Baseball_pitching_motion_2004. ... Image File history File links Baseball_pitching_motion_2004. ... This article is about the sport. ... The so-called Knickerbocker Rules were the 20 general guidelines to the rules of the game of baseball and of the organization itself that drew up those rules: The early 1840s New York ball club called the Knickerbockers. ... For the 1923 film starring Oliver Hardy, see Horseshoes (film). ... See also: 1883 in sports, 1885 in sports and the list of years in sports. Baseball First World Series contested - Providence NL defeats New York AA, 3 games to none. ...

Pitchers throw a variety of pitches, each of which has a slightly different velocity, trajectory, movement, hand position, wrist position and/or arm angle. These variations are introduced to confuse the batter in various ways, and ultimately aid the defensive team in getting the batter or baserunners out. This article is about the player in baseball. ... In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. ...

To obtain variety, and therefore enhance defensive baseball strategy, the pitcher manipulates the grip on the ball at the point of release. Variations in the grip cause the seams to "catch" the air differently, therefore changing the trajectory of the ball, making it harder for the batter to hit. This article is about the player in baseball. ... A baseball A baseball, is a ball used primarily in the sport of the same name, baseball. ...

Fastballs

Main article: Fastball

The fastball is the most common pitch in baseball, and most pitchers have some form of a fastball in their arsenal. It is basically a pitch thrown very fast, some with movement, some without. The cut fastball, split-finger fastball and forkball are variations on the fastball with extra movement, which are sometimes called sinking-fastballs because of the trajectories. The most common fastball type pitches are: For the American band of the same name, see Fastball (band). ...

• Four-seam fastball (rising fastball)
• Two-seam fastball
  • Cutter
  • Split-finger fastball
  • Forkball
  • Sinker

A four-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. ... In baseball, a sinker is a type of fastball pitch similar to the two-seam fastball which has significant downward movement. ...

Breaking balls

A common grip of a slider

Main article: Breaking ball

Well-thrown breaking balls have movement—sideways or downward usually. The notion of a pitched ball's trajectory moving is actually incorrect a ball "moves" due to the changes in the pressure of the air surrounding the ball as a result of the kind of pitch thrown. Therefore, in actuality, the ball actually keeps "moving" in the path of least resistance, which constantly changes. For example, the spin from a properly thrown slider (thrown by a right-handed pitcher) results in lower air pressure on the pitcher's left side, resulting in the ball "sliding" to the left (from the pitcher's perspective). The goal is usually to make the ball difficult to hit or confusing to batters. Most breaking balls are considered off-speed pitches. The most common breaking pitches are: Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In baseball, a breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight like a fastball as it approaches the batter. ... In baseball, an off-speed pitch is a pitch thrown at a slower speed than a fastball. ...

• Curveball
  • Knuckle curve
  • Slurve
• Slider
• Screwball

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In Major League history, the term knuckle curve has actually referred to two entirely different pitches. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A common grip of a slider a pitcher uses In baseball, a slider is a pitch halfway between a curveball and a fastball. ... For the hip-hop group from Queensbridge, see Screwball (group). ...

Changeups

Main article: Changeup

The changeup is the staple off-speed pitch, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much slower to the plate. Its reduced speed coupled with its deceptive delivery are meant to confuse the batter's timing.^[1] The most common changeups are: This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

• Straight change
  • Palmball
• Circle changeup

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Others

Other pitches which are or have been used in baseball are:

• Knuckleball
• Eephus pitch
• Spitball
• Gyroball
• Shuuto
• Knuckle Slider

Tim Wakefield in his throwing motion, showing his grip of the knuckleball. ... An Eephus pitch, (also spelled Ephus) in baseball, is considered a junk pitch with very low speed. ... A spitball is a baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of spit, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance. ... For the gyroscopic toy Powerball, see Powerball. ... The shuuto (Japanese シュート) or shootball is a pitch commonly thrown by Japanese pitchers such as Daisuke Matsuzaka that breaks slightly down and in on right-handed batters when thrown by a right-handed pitcher, somewhat similar to a screwball, although with less break. ...

See also

• Bowling - ball delivery method in cricket

v • d • e Baseball pitches
Fastballs	Four-seam · Two-seam · Cutter · Splitter · Sinker
Breaking balls	Curveball · Knuckle curve · Slurve · Slider · Screwball
Changeups	Changeup · Palmball · Circle changeup · Forkball
Others	Knuckleball · Eephus pitch · Spitball · Gyroball · Shuuto

The basics of bowling. ... This article is about the sport. ... For the American band of the same name, see Fastball (band). ... A four-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In baseball, a sinker is a type of fastball pitch similar to the two-seam fastball which has significant downward movement. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In baseball, a breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight like a fastball as it approaches the batter. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In Major League history, the term knuckle curve has actually referred to two entirely different pitches. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A common grip of a slider a pitcher uses In baseball, a slider is a pitch halfway between a curveball and a fastball. ... For the hip-hop group from Queensbridge, see Screwball (group). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. ... Tim Wakefield in his throwing motion, showing his grip of the knuckleball. ... An Eephus pitch, (also spelled Ephus) in baseball, is considered a junk pitch with very low speed. ... A spitball is a baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of spit, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance. ... For the gyroscopic toy Powerball, see Powerball. ... The shuuto (Japanese シュート) or shootball is a pitch commonly thrown by Japanese pitchers such as Daisuke Matsuzaka that breaks slightly down and in on right-handed batters when thrown by a right-handed pitcher, somewhat similar to a screwball, although with less break. ...

References

1. ^ Walsh, John (2007-09-19). Pitch Identification Tutorial. The Hardball Times. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that IPORT be merged into this article or section. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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