Charlie Hough Teaches the Knuckleball: Part 4 (Stories)

[@jackshields606]

Nice to see Charlie out and about. Remember him, Niekro, and Nolan Ryan from that era. Nothing like a knuckleball.

[@KnuckleballNation]

Nolan's fireball and Charlie's flutterball was quite a #1 and #2 punch for the Texas Rangers in the 80's. Too bad the rest of the team stunk. But the knuckleball hangover is real. Reliever and next-day starters benefit one run on their ERA coming into the game after a knuckleballer.

[@billymac7]

Thank you so much for sharing these instructional videos. There’s nothing close to the depth of explanation and knowledge of the knuckleball on KZbin. Thank you for keeping this dwindling art form of baseball alive!

[@KnuckleballNation]

I'm about to do a whole series on the intricacies. Phil Niekro and Charlie Hough taught me the pitch alongside RA Dickey. I've also worked with Tom Candiotti and Steven Wright. And I played professionally with the pitch, as well, so I'm a very good resource for the most mysterious pitch in the game.

[@allee68]

Charlie mentioned speed change. Maddox the master.

[@Copeiummaximus]

Interesting to hear him talk personally about his experiences with the pitch. Specifically using a regular “long arm” motion and keeping his wrist free instead of stiffer like Wake or Niekro. Also if anyone’s interested a biography of Hoyt Wilhelm just came out available on Amazon focusing on his career, I just started reading it, good stuff so far.

[@KnuckleballNation]

The Dodgers signed Hoyt and sent him to Triple A at the end of this career to mentor a young Hough. With his help, Charlie started pitching really well but the LA called up a 49-year-old Wilhelm for the pennant race. Charlie was pissed, but he learned his loose wrist approach from the great one. He said Hoyt was the most precise pitcher in history; throwing a knuckleball that didn't spin every time. And he somehow always found a way to throw into the wind when playing catch.

[@KnuckleballNation]

Charlie taught me the loose wrist approach which got me to throw the pitch professionally, but Wake and Phil used a locked wrist. There's no one right way to approach the pitch. But the locked wrist feels awful to me.

[@KnuckleballNation]

And thanks for the heads up about the book. I'll check it out.

[@marshallsayre58]

Even Tommy John wasn't a fast pitcher but he got strikes too

[@KnuckleballNation]

I love the old slow junk-ballers. Way more fun to watch then these flame throwers these days.

[@blumpkinspicelatte4580]

These kids have no idea how lucky they are to hear Charlie tell this stories and import his wisdom. The kid that needs a hair cut looks like he could care less.

[@KnuckleballNation]

I'm glad his stories touched you, but perhaps you should be more like Mr Hough.

[@areguapiri]

The ole Hougheroo.

[@KnuckleballNation]

He's probably got a good six-inning start in him right now.

[@heidilinnea313]

Promo-SM

[@KnuckleballNation]

What does that mean exactly?