The knuckleball is a lost art. Only a handful of pitchers in the major leagues throw it, namely Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey, but beyond them, you will not see anybody crossing up any batters with the corkscrew pitch on a regular basis. Even less common are guys who throw a knuckleball sparingly as part of a repertoire and not simply as a primary pitch with a 70-to-80 MPH “fastball” as a part of the mix.

The knuckleball is special because of how it “dances” in the air. The way the pitcher grips and throws the ball causes it to float without spinning, which makes the ball make awkward movements in the air and the batter has trouble hitting it. On a good night, a pitcher can really do some damage with these terribly slow pitches. However, when the ball is not moving, a pitcher can find himself hitting the showers early.

There are those out there who think more pitchers should attempt to learn to throw an effective knuckleball; especially those coming back from surgeries or who are reinventing their arm angle. It seems like a good idea, especially since the strain on the arm of a knuckleballer is so low that usually it allows them to pitch longer. It also gives pitchers capable of throwing a 90 MPH fastball and a breaking ball another lethal weapon against hitters. Of course, that is only if they’re good at it.

Why we don’t see the knuckleball in baseball that much anymore is a shame. There are no other pitches remotely like it and the power it has is undeniable. Baseball has become a place that glamorizes those who can hit triple digits on the radar gun. A pitcher who can throw three-quarters that speed effectively are a luxury. You can’t teach a guy to throw 100, but you can certainly teach him the opposite, and teams would be well-advised to give that approach a chance.