Everything about The Forkball totally explained
The
forkball is a type of
pitch in
baseball. Related to the
split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist.
The forkball differs from the split-fingered fastball, however, in that the ball is jammed deeper between the first two fingers. The result is that the forkball is generally thrown slightly slower than the splitter, but will have more of a 'tumbling' action akin to the movement of a
knuckleball.
Use in the Major Leagues
The forkball is favored by several major league pitchers, including
Hideo Nomo,
José Contreras,
Chien-Ming Wang and
Edwar Ramirez. In addition, a number of
NPB players throw forkballs, including
Kazumi Saitoh of the
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks who has ridden his forkball to two
Sawamura Awards. Former Major League pitchers
Dave Stewart and
Melido Perez were two of the most highly regarded forkball pitchers in the late 1980's, while
Jack Morris used a forkball as his primary strikeout pitch while winning more games than any other pitcher in the 1980's.
Origin of the forkball
"Bullet" Joe Bush of the
Boston Red Sox is credited with the invention of the forkball, shortly following
World War I. However, it was popularized by former relief pitcher
Elroy Face of the
Pittsburgh Pirates.
Medical concerns
The forkball is known to be a cause of damage to the shoulder and elbow. Famous forkballers, particularly Japanese players, have often required surgery to remove bone fractures or to repair damaged tendons, sometimes several times in their careers. One such pitcher was former
Yokohama BayStars and
Seattle Mariners closer
Kazuhiro Sasaki who, according to one fan, "practically had to have bone chips removed from his elbow every year."
Further Information
Get more info on 'Forkball'.
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