The Pitcher Who Physically Couldn't Throw a Normal Pitch
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- R.A. Dickey is the owner of one of the most bizarre careers in MLB history. After finding out he didn't have an ulnar collateral ligament, he lost out on almost a million dollars. Worst of all, this anomaly made his pitches decline in his early 20s, he need a change quick in order to save his career. Ultimately deciding to prioritize throwing the most difficult to master pitch in baseball, the knuckleball.
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Title: The Pitcher Who Physically Couldn't Throw a Normal Pitch
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This man’s life could be made into a movie he went through probably the worst childhood anyone could go through had many many setbacks in his career and personal life and then when he regained control of his life and career he became one of the best starters ever. His book is amazing by the way
His book is great
I bought it for $1.06 out the door from the dollar tree in like 2018, back when stuff was still actually $1
$1 plus sales tax obv
If only some of that detail was shared in this video
Mets fan for 52 years. Watching his CY year was a whole lotta fun. I remember Phil Niekro and reading about the history of the game. Dickey’s control with that pitch was the best I’ve ever seen. Complete games with one or no walks ? That’s just incredible. At the time I didn’t know what he went through to get where he was. That makes it even more unbelievable. He’s a good man and I wish him nothing but the best.
I was at that game when he tied that record. I had never heard of him before this. I was listening to sports talk radio on the way to the game. I told my "friend" that I went to the game with as we were walking into the stadium "nuckle ballers are funny. They are either on or they get rocked." Well... he got rocked and sent to the minors the next day. Ever since them I had to root for him. I kept an eye on him and was so happy he made it back.
I'd say Tim Wakefield just barely edges out R.A, Dickey in terms which had a better career. Wake was often a key guy in the Red Sox rotation, his wins & losses were up and down but he always ate up innings (averaged 201 IP per season). Those innings eased the workload of the rest of the Sox rotation. Most, if not all, MLB teams would love a 4th or 5th starter who has a .526 W/L% over a 17yr stretch.
The Rangers ballpark at that time (Ameriquest or RBIA I can't remember which) was a part of the problem for Dickey at the beginning of his Knuckleball journey. There was what we called the "jetstream". The design of the park created a wind anomaly that would loop in from center and swoop down low funneling to the center at field level and blowing from behind the mound towards the plate. Then due to the design of the club level and the pitch of the lower bowl, the wind tunnel that developed would cross the plate and go vertical until it reached the club level-ish or higher where it would gain velocity and lift from the heat picked up from the field level. Then it would make a complete U-turn back towards center to right center field and get sorta vacuumed back out over the office suites in right center. This is one of the major factors for the HR numbers in RBIA, especially in the dead heat of summer months. A knuckleball gets its movement from the wind resistance acting against the seams of the ball in an uneven pattern causing it to dance. So it is most effective with a slight breeze blowing from the plate to the mound in the pitchers face. A tail wind does the opposite. It pushes the ball and counters the resistance needed for movement. It essentially turns it into a flat BP soft toss. Many efforts to eliminate or reduce the jetstream through the years of the ballpark did reduce it in the latter years. The construction of the glassed-in Jack Daniels club boxes are believed to be the mod that finally reduced it to at least a non-absurd magnitude.
I realize I just wrote a novel of useless information that literally nobody asked for but... You're welcome anyway
This is precisely what the Internet is for. I thank you very much for this insight.
Loved him on the Jays!
LOL, I’m texting him that thumbnail! We are coaches on the same high school team. He’s the pitching coach of course. No, none of our pitchers throw a knuckle ball (usually the first question).
Glad we had him for a short time in Atlanta!
Incredibly well-constructed video, I can’t wait to see the channel blow up! Keep up the great work!
KABOOM
Dickey face! I loved watching him pitch. His book is fantastic as well!
Got my sub. You also get my like, and one to three comments, from now on every video until you don’t need it anymore. Primarily because the content is great, but also because you didn’t ask for it.
did I hear that right ? one of every eight knuckleballers are in the hall of fame ??
One great guy. His Cy Young year with the Mets. I went to then Shea Statium for the game. I always show up early. On the way in I see two guys looking under a cars hood clearly trying to fix a problem.I drift over and notice the guy working with a screw driver and a Phillips in his back pocket. I recognized R.A. and other people gathered. All giving advice. Time passed and I asked Didn't he need to get to the game. Said he was almost done. Tells the driver to hit the gas and car started up right away. R.A. has a big smile on his face. Guy shakes his hand and R.A. heads to the park.
He won the game but I'd swear his post game smile was not as big as when that car started up.
P.S. Big Met fan but after that day a bigger R.A. Dickey fan.
Great pitcher. We beat him in ‘15 but i liked and respected him. Fun to watch !
"This guy will never need Tommy John! Let's cut him!" Smfh
The issue is throwing less than 90 MPH raises the batting average of the entire league by like .200 to .300 points in today's MLB.
So without the knuckleball he didn't really master till with the Mets, he wasn't worth bringing to an MLB roster.
When he became effective at 35 it reminded me a lot of Jimmy Morris
Better Knuckleball? Tim Wakefield or R.A. Dickey?
Dickey, but only because I've got A Rangers bias.
Wakefield
Tim but I have a dog in the fight 😂
Wakefield, I can't stand him as a Yankees fan but he won two titles with that knuckle ball
Hough!
Had no clue he was abused as a kid.. by two different people.. thats rough. I hope God has a special punishment for those people.
Changing ball speeds is dramatic to a hitter...I played mens fastpith softball , the mound is super close and the pitches are in the 80s etc... Anyhow I played in a slow pitch softball tournament during the fast pitch season...I came unglued swinging at those slow pitches when I was used to pitches popping the mitt the second it left the pitchers hand.
I just watched a college kid hitting 85-90 on his knuckle.
Nice work…
That thumbnail makes him look like Ryan Reynolds.
Wby do his teeth look weird in the thumbnail?
I stopped watching after his third baseman sacked that play worse then Roger Dorn 😢
#majorleague
First
🥇
@@3-0Greenlight I watch you every single day
@@jordanivker6956 So time travel is real?!?! How does it work? How did you get here from way back in 2004 when saying things like "First" made you look cool instead of like a fkenDWEEB like it does in 2025?!
Mountain climbing ? Swimming across a freaking river ? Where's this dude's head at ? What about the commitment he made with not only his team but his teammates ? You go ahead and crown him - sounds like a selfish and sometimes irrational dude who can throw a knuckleball - by the way - When climbing that mountain , what do you do with your waste ? They throw it down on the ground - and that's horseshit- i have to wonder if he's all about climate change initiatives - If he is then we can add to the list - maybe he's a decent guy - don't know him - but I look at things different and I don't believe these people
Edit - back off the mic dude - your voice is all we need - the enunciations is annoying
You’re acting like you wrote his checks.
If only he could’ve been as disciplined as you, he would’ve accomplished so much more huh🤡
How many Cy Young awards have you won?
You deserve a much wider audience. Direct, accurate, not laced with half assed comedy, really excellent baseball piece.
Can’t make me feel bad 75 is still alot in 1996
This statement is both accurate and garbage. For one I don't think anyone was trying to make you feel bad. Two, $75K is still a lot in 2025. Three, you should familiarize yourself with the concepts of "relativity" and "context". Lastly, "alot" isn't a word.