Description
Book SynopsisThe knuckleballso difficult to hit but also difficult to control and catchhas been a part of major league baseball since the early 1900s and continues to be used to this day. This remarkable and unusual pitch is the instrument of a special breed of pitcher, a determined athlete possessing tremendous concentration, self confidence, and a willingness to weather all kinds of adversity. In The Knuckleball Club: The Extraordinary Men Who Mastered Baseball''s Most Difficult Pitch, Richard A. Johnson provides an informal history of the wildest, weirdest, most mesmerizing pitch of all time. Beginning with an examination of the invention of the knuckleball, Johnson then briefly touches upon the science and psychology of the pitch before profiling the game's great knuckleballers. Rich in anecdotes and interviews, this book shares the unique stories of Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, Jim Bouton, Tom Candiotti, Tim Wakefield, R.A. Dickey, and many others. Also featured are the stories of the best knuck
Trade ReviewAn in depth look at the most confounding pitch ever to grace the game of baseball. The who’s, whats and why’s of this quirky pitch are covered in this book. It also shares the stories of the Pitchers and Catchers who shared the success of the weird and wild pitch. This is the first book I have found that has shown how it fits into the fabric of the game, and is great knowledge for the average baseball fan. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed. * Gregg's Baseball Bookcase *
[I]nformative and enjoyable [is the] book The Knuckleball Club.... Johnson’s most impressive achievement might be in helping his readers understand the mental discipline common to successful knuckleballer pitchers. * The Inside Game: The Official Newsletter of SABR's Deadball Era Committee *
The Knuckleball Club needs to be read—I know you will really enjoy it. -- Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame pitcher
I could throw every pitch but one—the knuckler! Enjoyed reading about these unique pitchers with a very unique talent to throw the most unique pitch of them all—the knuckleball! -- Frank Tanana, MLB pitcher and three-time All Star selection
Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Bug-Tossers Chapter 2: An Eerie Sort of Fooler Chapter 3: A Baseball in “Crisis” Chapter 4: Eddie Rommel: “Put Something on the Ball, You Ham!” Chapter 5: The Dutchman: “He Might Be a Salesman or a Farmer or a Mechanic” Chapter 6: Wend It Like Wilhelm Chapter 7: “Geez, Geez”: Wilhelm’s No-Hitter Chapter 8: “Sometimes I Thought I’d Never Make It” Chapter 9: The Family Heirloom Chapter 10: Wilbur Wonderful Chapter 11: “From Now on I’m Throwing a Knuckleball” Chapter 12: “You Wouldn’t Notice If a Bomb Hit” Chapter 13: Knuckleballers in Abundance Chapter 14: Knotorious Knuckleballs Chapter 15: Two Bulldogs Chapter 16: “We Did It” Chapter 17: The Knuckleball Club Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
