Rare Video of Hoyt Wilhelm and his Knuckleball

[@dizbang3073]

Hoyt Wilhelm won 124 games in relief, still a ML record. He also hit a home run in his first ML at-bat, then never hit another one. One of his catchers, Gus Triandos, once called heaven "a place where nobody throws a knuckleball." As a rookie with the Giants in 1952 he won 15 games, posted an ERA of 2.43 and finished fourth in the MVP voting. Two years later he won a World Series. For five straight seasons in the 1960's his ERA was less than 2.00. His last appearance in 1972 with the Dodgers came two weeks before his 50th birthday. He finished his career with an ERA of 2.52.

[@f.lloydwrong7127]

Good stuff diz, absolute stud. I knew I'd seen him on tv as the dodgers were my childhood team. Also watched wilbur wood finish a postponed game and pitch a complete game right after. On tv, joe garigiola and tony kubek days.

[@dirtyjohn6556]

My Dad was a softball player and when we would toss the ball he would throw a knuckle ball underhanded like a softball pitcher and then I could see why it was hard to hit, that softball actually moved around and you were almost guessing where it would go to catch it. Scary being a catcher.

[@troysmith2599]

ESPN.

[@danielfronc4304]

@@dirtyjohn6556 Scary as a softball catcher, potentially deadly as a hardball catcher. I once played a pick-up game playing catcher, why I don't know as I had never played that position before. I got distracted as this was at my sister's all girl high school field. Next thing I knew I was picking myself up dusting myself off. Turned out the pitcher threw a mean fastball, which hit me half under my nose, half on my maxilla. No tooth damage although my dentist was knocked out of his dental operatory chair. Shades of Tony Conigliaro.

[@kevinmadden1645]

In Wilhelm's second at-bat he hit a triple and never hit another triple in a 21 -year career(1952-1972)..

[@joetrapp9187]

JW Porter died last year, RIP. His Bonus Baby signing out of Oakland Technical HS brought three teammates at McClymonds HS to everyone's attention: Vada Pinson, Curt Flood, and Frank Robinson. Oh, and a guy named Bill Russell was the basketball team's center.

[@lsmftymf]

Note that Wilhelm's arm motion is a relaxed sidearm.

[@robertjasso6673]

Hoyt was a legend in his own time never in his own mind, a humble guy you had to root for .

[@jayritchie851]

My dad was wounded in WWII and couldn't do much with his left arm. Because of that, his right arm became very strong. When I was a teenager and my dad was in his 40's, we would play catch in the backyard and he would throw a 3-knuckle "knuckleball." It must have been due to his arm being so strong, but that ball would move all over the place. It was pretty amazing. Sometimes, he would throw to my friends and they were also amazed. Judging by what I saw in this old footage, my dad's "knuckler" had a lot more movement than Wilhelm's did...and it was also a lot faster. He showed us how to throw it, but we could never come close to throwing it like he did. Crazy, the little things you remember from when you were a kid.......

[@richerwin6397]

Be proud of your Dad, he was a part of our greatest generation.

[@Elijahgavi]

What slot did he throw it at??? High or submarine

[@jayritchie851]

@@Elijahgavi Thx for asking. Overhand, not submarine.

[@Elijahgavi]

@@jayritchie851 wow nice did he have good comm? And overhand most likely means more movement

[@pennyfoley2434]

Listening to players such as Hoyt and J.W. makes my heart feel good. I used to listen to Vin Scully, Don Drysdale and Jerry Doggett announce the Dodgers games as I went to sleep. You want to talk about going to sleep with a smile on ur face.

[@Steve52344]

Man, I love this video. As a kid with my father I saw Hoyt pitch many times at the Polo Grounds. Three teams in NY. What a time it was.

[@shannonwalker4098]

The best part of this is reading the recollections of Old Timers! Thanks for sharing your stories!

[@WadeKawahara]

I remember when he was with the White Sox. JC Martin was usually his catcher and he started using an oversize mitt that was shaped more like a 1st baseman's mitt than a catcher's mitt.

[@Xix1326]

JC Martin, a Mets hero!

[@DemonKingBadger]

My dad when he was a kid actually saw JC Martin play as an amateur. He was still an infielder. With the White Sox, not only did he have to catch Wilhelm, but knuckleballer Wilbur Wood, and I think later on Eddie Fisher.

[@garnetburgin2994]

He was a class act, he gave me an autograft baseball in 1964 when I was 5 years old. I still have it still in the box! At 5 you don’t realize at the time what was going on.

[@robertsprouse9282]

It was grafted in a car? Meanwhile, I once got an autoGRAPH..

[@edmundmcgrath213]

@@robertsprouse9282 I taught I saw a puddy cat

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@edmundmcgrath213 , you did..you did!

[@realistindenial]

If you loved this video, don't forget to support the sponsor and buy some Rapid-Shave today.

[@Diosprometheus]

When with the Orioles Hoyt shared pitching time with fellow knuckler Hal "Skinny" Brown. When he was traded to the White Sox, he shared pitching time with another knuckler Eddie Fisher and eventually Wilbur Wood. When with the Angels he was again paired with Eddie Fisher. When he played for the Braves he joined fellow HOF'er and knuckler Phil Niekro. When he finished out his career with the Dodgers he was again paired with a young aspiring knuckler Charlie Hough. How about that, fans?

[@robertsprouse9282]

Wilbur Wood once pitched both doubleheader games as a STARTER..WENT THE DISTANCE I believe, in both, or at least went 7 in both ..

[@RalphSampson...]

@@robertsprouse9282 Teams wouldn't even consider playing them in both games nowadays.

[@Diosprometheus]

@@robertsprouse9282 That was against the Yankees on July 20, 1973, when Wood started both ends of a doubleheader.

[@Diosprometheus]

@@robertsprouse9282 www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA197307201.shtml The second game www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA197307202.shtml

[@alfeinberg4583]

How about that? Love the Mel Allen reference!!!

[@Baltimore1894]

Hoyt threw a no-hitter for the Orioles on September 20, 1958.

[@benlopez9807]

Great video. I was a baseball fan when Wilhelm was pitching. I listened to Bob Wolf as the announce for the Washington Senator's games. Thanks for posting this, brings back a lot of memories.

[@danielfronc4304]

*Warner Wolf did the play by play

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@danielfronc4304, WARNER on ABC, BOB WOLFF DID SENATORS GAMES AND LATER TWINS games after the move..

[@gsjackson34]

Funniest thing I've seen in baseball was big Frank Howard, when he played for the Senators, trying to hit Wilhelm's knuckler when it was really on. Couldn't come within a foot of it.

[@tct84]

@@gsjackson34 😂 Thank you for this comment it made me laugh thinking about it

[@amram1017]

A wonderful retro look at back in the days when baseball was fun. I remember when Wilhelm pitched for the Orioles and they had a catcher named Gus Triandos, who, it was said, used an over-sized catcher's mitt to catch Wilhelm. I love this video because Hoyt Wilhelm presents himself as a knowledgeable, articulate, guy eager to share his expertise, the kind of guy whom young boys idolize. And his "knuckleball" had a sense of mystery about it. I'm pretty sure he struck out Mickey Mantle more than once. I tried the pitch myself--using my knuckles--and of course it was worthless, couldn't control it. Wish I'd seen this interview some 60 years ago. Oh, and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge? A true American hero.

[@willdrucker4291]

This video of the legendary Hoyt Wilhelm was produced sometime in early 1958...later that season, he would be traded to the Baltimore Orioles and would play another 14 seasons in the majors; finishing his career in July 1972 when the Dodgers released him just five days short of his 50th birthday!!!...

[@Diosprometheus]

Hoyt fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. As a result of his injury; he played his entire career with a piece of shrapnel lodged in his back. Hoyt debuted with he New York Giants in 1952. He was 29. The first time he batted in the majors, he hit a home run, the only one in his story book career. Wilhelm finished in the top ten in Most Valuable Player Award voting that season, becoming the first relief pitcher to finish that high. In 1954, the Giants went to the World Series that year and that was the only time Wilhelm appeared in the fall classic The Giants beat the heavily favored Cleveland Indians in four straight. On August 23, 1958, the Cleveland Indians put Wilhelm on waviers. At the time, Wilhelm had a 2.49 ERA. The notorious Indian General Manager, Frank Lane, one of the most hated people in Cleveland baseball history, thought "Old Sarge" could not be caught by any of the Indians catchers so he packed him off. On September 20, 1958, Wilhelm pitched a no-hitter against; the eventual World Champion New York Yankees 1-0 at Memorial Stadium It was only his ninth career start. This game marked the first no-hitter in the Orioles history after their moved from St. Louis where they had played as the Browns. (The original American League franchise known as the Baltimore Orioles had moved to New York at the beginning of 1903 where they evenutally become known as the Yankees.)In 1959, Oriole catchers set a ML record for 49 passed balls. Oriole catcher Gus Triandos once said, "Heaven is a place where no one throws a knuckleball." Wilhelm was the first relief pitcher elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Many baseball players have said Hoyt had the best Knuckleball they have ever seen.

[@grehhet161]

@@Diosprometheus thanks for that in depth info. im scratching my head here wondering how in the world a knuckleballer can compile the numbers he did. he wasnt just a great knuckler, he was an amazing pitcher. period. i would love to go back and somehow see HD quality video of his appearances.

[@dalethelander3781]

He was with the Cubs for a short time before the Dodgers.

[@kevinobrien9271]

Wilhelm said at the time that he could have kept pitching. His knuckleball was still effective, but his reflexes had slowed too much for him to safely field his position.

[@a_missippian]

@@Diosprometheus great post sir - many thanks for the inside baseball on this awesome pitcher - cheers from the Delta

[@donalddingler1263]

Hoyt is from Huntersville, NC where I use to live, I did not know Hoyt but I did play ball with his brother Cooper, he also had a knuckle but was up in years when we played ball. He pitched to me one day in practice he was hard to hit even then.

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

I'm 64, and this was a hair before my time. Nevertheless, the ambiance and flavor brought me back to a time long ago. The commercials are a real hoot from that era. Cheers

[@carrite]

No, it wasn't. You just weren't paying close enough attention as a kid!

[@bugsb70]

Thanks for the video. I actually saw Wilhelm pitch when I was a kid. From the second deck of Yankee Stadium I really got to see the ball perform. Have never seen anything like it since.

[@MKIVWWI]

I remember Hoyt Wilhelm pitching in the Big A for the Angels.... must have been 1969? As a kid he seemed real old to be pitching, but he did good. And he seemed like an old wizard with that crazy knuckleball!

[@SconnerStudios]

Very cool. Hoyt Wilhelm was baseball's first true reliever. He pitched several innings at a time, unlike modern closers.

[@DemonKingBadger]

Yeah, that was the tendency until about 1990. I remember Gossage would often come in and pitch the 8th and 9th after the starter went 7.

[@peterjeffery8495]

I remember H.W. from a commercial that ran in the 60's for Bengay or A535, one of those creams for sore muscles. I think he carried it in the back pocket of his uniform pants. I think he holds/or held the record for the longest career in the majors. I remember he played for about 25 years.

[@DemonKingBadger]

21 seasons, but he was 29 when he made his debut, so definitely impressive.

[@JohnSmith-en8vx]

I met Bob in 1994 in Syosset NY at “the pier of oyster bay” restaurant he frequented. That was the year he went into the HOF. Great guy. RIP

[@edmundmcgrath213]

House of Fries.

[@thomasmikita2358]

Great video of a time gone by in baseball

[@jpsned]

Watching Hoyt pitch in the early 70s, I was fascinated by the fact that he was close to 50 and still pitching.

[@carrite]

The wonders of not having to throw in the 90s or torque your arm.

[@jpsned]

@@carrite There ya go!

[@bubblinbrownsugar616]

My heart belongs to the Orioles. I remember watching 61* the movie about Mantle/Maris chasing Babe Ruth's HR record, they got to Memorial Stadium, they brought out Wilhelm specifically for Maris. I didn't know (and still don't know. That's the the era of my father and uncles) much about the O's at that time so when they showed in the movie the bat boy giving the catcher a bigger glove, to catch his knuckleballs, I remember going "oh sh*t! This dude must have been the real deal" immediately looked up his wikipedia page after the movie which led me to other links about him which turned me into a fan ever since! 😁

[@felixmadison5736]

There was a specially made, oversized catchers mitt just for Wilhelm's knuckler. The man was something to see I'll tell you that. Back when baseball was the real deal and not a t.v. show.

[@bobbrown5951]

I remember seeing that game live. I think it was a Monday night broadcast which was unusual at the time. My recollection was that they brought Wilhelm in as a reliever as Maris had a chance to either tie or break Ruth's record in the same number of games. The catchers did have a rough time handling the pitches including dropped third strikes.

[@lencorben5573]

@@bobbrown5951 It was actually a Wednesday (Sept. 20, 1961). You can find box scores and other data of just about every mlb game by Googling baseball-reference and looking up the appropriate season. Wilhelm relieved to start the 9th inning but Maris was the third batter in the inning.

[@bobbrown5951]

@@lencorben5573 Thank you for that info. It's a fuzzy memory. I would be interested in looking up my first games that I saw in person. In July of '63 my dad took me to a Yankees/Twins doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Quite a few big names on the field that day. Mantle, Maris, Berra, Ford, Killebrew, Oliva, Versalles. Somewhere I have photos I took of the teams on the field with a Brownie Hawkeye camera. So it's hard to make anyone out but the ads on the outfield walls are interesting.

[@lencorben5573]

@@bobbrown5951 Don`t know if you`ve looked it up yet but the Twins won the first game 5-1 and the Yankees the second on a walk-off single. I`ve copied the bottom of the 9th for you. Bottom of the 9th, Yankees Batting, Behind 1-2, Twins' Dick Stigman facing 3-4-5 b9 1-2 0 --- NYY Tom Tresh Dick Stigman 13% 32% Single to LF (Ground Ball) b9 1-2 0 1-- NYY Elston Howard Dick Stigman 19% 50% Walk; Tresh to 2B b9 1-2 0 12- NYY Harry Bright Dick Stigman 23% 73% Single to 3B/Bunt; Howard to 2B; Tresh to 3B Bill Dailey replaces Dick Stigman pitching and batting 9th Jack Reed pinch runs for Harry Bright (1B) batting 5th b9 1-2 0 123 RR NYY Hector Lopez Bill Dailey 27% 100% Single to CF; Howard Scores; Tresh Scores; Reed to 2B 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Twins 2, Yankees 3.

[@douglasmcclure]

Thanks for posting this! I found myself totally transported back to those days.

[@mc76]

Bob Uecker had the best line about knuckleballers: "I wasn't a catcher. I was a chaser. I waited until the ball stopped rolling and picked up and threw it back to the pitcher."

[@robertsprouse9282]

Yes, one weekend, he saw Phil Niekro's visiting parents sitting behind the screen behind the plate, more than Phil did.

[@mikebradshaw6484]

Bob could've stopped after the first sentence.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@mikebradshaw6484, he was a good defensive catcher. Otherwise, as poorly as he hit in MLB, he would never have stuck for 7 or 8 seasons, even in the hitless '60's. He was not a full-timer, a starter, except when Phil Niekro pitched. Bad defensive catchers don't catch knuckleballers.

[@carlmorell567]

Just a bit outside - Hoyt pitched for my favorite team the Cleveland Indians and they will always be the Indians to me no matter what you call them

[@DemonKingBadger]

Actually, Uecker was one of the better knuckleball catchers. You just have to remember he also has a comedic flair.

[@thomaswolf723]

A number of years ago the late Bob Wolf released a video, Conversations with Bob Wolf, containing many of his interviews with ball players from the 1950's when Wolf was broadcasting for the Senators. He had interviews with such players as Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox, Whitey Ford, Whitey Herzog, and Early Wynn, and managers like Casey Stengel and Al Lopez. This conversation with Hoyt Wilhelm was one of the interviews.

[@user-bx9dd7bd2t]

I thought he was still alive on Long island?

[@tomsmith5216]

Bob Wolff was a terrific sportscaster.

[@canoebelue]

Ted Williams had Hoyt on his list of the toughest pitchers he ever faced.

[@richardcarden4161]

That is saying A LOT!

[@ronrobinson7812]

Hoyt pitched forever .. in his first at bat he hit a home run and then he never hit another one.. mostly stuck out... saw him pitch many times with the orioles... good guy.

[@seththomas9105]

Dad always said he wa a "decent" htter... for a pitchr. LOL.

[@henrykonkel5065]

i remember as a young boy see Hoyt pitch for the White Sox. If he came into relieve it was game over!

[@rickallen8158]

Back when athletes were gentlemen without the huge egos and arrogance so common today,,,

[@ORagnar]

That's true. Less show boating.

[@henrysmith5472]

amen brother

[@mikekubacki782]

Hoyt wasn't very nice to young fans when he appeared at the Minas store in Hammond,IN in the 60s. Ken Berry and Floyd Robinson were very nice. Hoyt was a dick.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@mikekubacki782, you were there? Did he not sign your stuff? Were the kids being nice and polite to him? I can only speak from experience. In my first minor league announcing gig, during the preseason/offseason, I put on a JEREMIAH THE BULLFROG costume and went to P.R. functions. When kids, boys of 7-12 would show up, they would take their hard plastic baseball bats and slap me around hard on my unpadded green legs with them also trying to hit me in the frog face or head, lol. So, I would give them a big ol' friendly Jeremiah hug, while surreptitiously squeezing and pinching their neck, lat. and shoulder muscles, with just enough pain employed to get them to back off, lol.. Kids then and now can be brats.. By the way, someone else wearing the FROG costume took the pain at the ballpark or at P.R. functions when I announced during the season..lol.. Hoyt Wilhelm was from the deep South, and probably did not abide punky, impolite, bratty kids..

[@jeffking887]

Not as much money either. Not sure if that makes any difference 🤔

[@johncameron6351]

"Hoyt Wilhelm and his dancing medicine show" ....that's how Bob Elson used to refer to him while calling the radio games for the White Sox in the 60's

[@bigtalk2598]

I grew up in Cleveland and remember paying 3$ to sit in the bleachers in the 70s and early 80s, when they were in last place by 40 games. We got to walk on the field on a field trip as a child. Walked right where he was throwing. One of my childhood highlights.

[@pukulu]

Wilhelm pitched until he was 49 years old. He was one of the greatest relief pitchers in baseball history. His lifetime ERA was around 2.52. Until Mariano Rivera came along, I might have ranked Wilhelm number 1.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

He was less than a month or 2 from being 50.

[@maxventana]

Personal Hoyt Wilhelm story I was always told growing up that he and his wife lived across the street from us at our rowhome on Wicklow Rd., behind Edmondson Village. My father told me you knew when he returned from a ball game because you could hear him walk up the front walk in his cleats. As an adult I thought this was probably a tall tale from dad...who would wear cleats that long after a game? So I asked my mother about it a few years back. She told me not only was it true, but that Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm had a habit of sunbathing in the front yard, apparently considered a bit bold by the block's housewives.

[@davidsacco3853]

very interesting, thanks

[@mistertee5503]

Another personal Hoyt Wilhelm story... I as a retired home inspector and had a call to do an insurance inspection for a Mrs. Wilhelm in Sarasota, Florida. I didn't put two and two together and met this nice old lady before performing the inspection. I noticed some baseball mementos on the living room wall. One was a replica of his Hall of Fame plaque. Suddenly I asked if she was Hoyt's wife...to which she replied "yes". I proceeded to tell her that Hoyt was one of my heroes as a Baltimore Oriole (my hometown back then). I must have asked her a million questions. She told me that you could never tell if Hoyt had won or lost a game...he had the same calm demeanor. She also said one of Hoyt's biggest thrills was getting a home run (his only home run) with his first at-bat in the major leagues. Sweet lady...and I think I made her day.

[@tinfoilsombrero1439]

@@mistertee5503 That’s cool. How long ago was that experience?

[@mistertee5503]

@@tinfoilsombrero1439 It was back in 2012. Hoyt's wife was Peggy Wilhelm...and I did not know then that he had died in a Sarasota nursing home of heart failure. She has since passed away in 2015. Sweet lady and wife of a heck of a guy!

[@tinfoilsombrero1439]

@@mistertee5503 Cool story. It’s nice to know there are some unassuming people out there. Compare that to some of the athletes of today who believe they are kings and treat people like garbage. I’ve met a few. Met a few others who couldn’t be nicer. Will Clark from the Giants is a superbly nice guy.

[@dunkee19]

Makin a cameo appearance in the background (#8) was Indians 1B Mickey Vernon, who was one of the few players in Major League history to play in four different decades (1939-1960).

[@exchequerguy4037]

Of those who pitched at least a thousand innings in the 1960's, who had the lowest overall ERA? Koufax? Good guess, but it was actually Hoyt Wilhelm.

[@Rob96778]

And he was 47 years old when the decade ended. He continued to play major league baseball until he was released by LA Dodgers less than a week before his 50th birthday. I can remember an interview with a Dodger executive not long after where he said, to the effect, that Wilhelm could still pitch but his reflexes had slowed to where they were concerned that he could not react to a line drive up the middle. They released him more out of concern for his safety than his ability to pitch.

[@paulseano5100]

I have Sandy Koufax Dodgers cards for sale.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

@@paulseano5100 I have one on ebay right now.

[@steveham2622]

@@paulseano5100 I read a long time ago where Pete Rose said Koufax was one of the toughest he ever faced.... said Koufax could throw a fastball thru a carwash and it wouldn't even get wet. Classic.

[@calfolk7381]

I got his autograph near the bullpen at a Dodger game in 1971, along with pitching coach Red Adam’s. I was 8 years old lol

[@bobwarzin5492]

Based on personal experience it looked like he was throwing from less than 60' 6".

[@joyceocone4535]

I began my love of baseball when I was about 12 years old. I was a devout Brooklyn Dodgers fan back then but now follow the Yankees. Anyway I never forgot Hoyt Wilhelm and his infamous knuckleball pitch. I wish some pitchers today could use it but I am sure that the catchers wouldn't agree. A damn good pitcher Hoyt. R.I.P. .

[@TexTom1981]

Cool video...surprisingly good quality based on the fact it was shot on film.

[@felixmadison5736]

I watched Hoyt Wilhelm pitch in the 1960s for the White Sox and Orioles and he was the best knuckleball pitcher ever in my opinion.

[@opel47]

Un f#@$ing believable. I feel like I'm catching a knuckleballer from the greatest pastime known to man. Thank you sir and God Bless You

[@alartandy]

Brings back memories of Mel Allen calling his name during a Yankees telecast: "Hoyt Will-hellmmmm."

[@rickyarvizu7535]

"HOW'ABOOOT THAT?!!"

[@MrJoeybabe25]

James Hoyt Wilhelm (July 26, 1922 - August 23, 2002), nicknamed "Old Sarge", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers between 1952 and 1972. Wilhelm was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, and is one of 83 pitchers enshrined in the Hall.

[@bwanadave76]

Early Wynn had a pretty good one, too.

[@Celluloidwatcher]

Thank you for the above video featuring HOF'er Hoyt Wilhelm and his trademark knuckleball that baffled many a batter in his long major league career. Including, in this case, the Cleveland Indians, one of his numerous stops along the way to Cooperstown.

[@martinpulvers8602]

I was at the Polo Grounds in NYC when Wilhelm came back to town with the Cardinals, to whom he had recently been traded. When the Cards had Hoyt warm up in the outfield bullpen (which was on the actual field, in deep left or right centerfield) it took two catchers to contain Wilhelm...one regular catcher, of course, and one 20 or so feet behind him to retrieve what the first warm-up catcher couldn't contain. J.W. Porter was not exaggerating the difficulty of catching a knuckleballer like Wilhelm.

[@JohnHolton]

I remember Hoyt Wilhelm with the White Sox in the mid-60's, and at times he was the only thing going well for the Sox. The night he broke Cy Young appearances record (since broken by Dennis Eckersley and Jesse Orosco) was his 45th birthday. He was actually a year or two older than that, as it turns out.

[@joep6592]

I remember him with the Sox also. I think he taught Wilber Wood how to perfect the pitch.

[@Kedziekid]

@@joep6592 What really made him so effective with the Sox, was catcher J.C. Martin who could actually catch his knuckler. Hoyt was the closer, and when he came in, J.C. came in as well. Poor Gus Triandos used a mitt the size of a large pizza, and still had trouble. With J.C. no one could easily advance on passed balls, and it made Hoyt very effective. Check out his stats with the Sox, as opposed to other teams he played with.

[@dalethelander3781]

Then he went to the Cubs.

[@dalethelander3781]

@@Kedziekid That mitt was the "Big Bertha" made by Wilson specifically for catching the knuckleball.

[@antoniofreire8471]

I remember him when he played for the Havana Lions in Cuba, 1950 or 51.

[@jokrmidnite]

I have an autograph baseball of Mr Wilhelm, he was managing an Appalachian League team (Class D rookie) and coaching 3rd base, between innings I asked him to sign a ball for me and he obliged. (1974)

[@baclightning]

This was shot in 1958 - the only year that both Wilhelm and Porter played for Cleveland.

[@bipolarvortex]

Funny… I was curious about when this was shot, so I paused the video and researched and reached the same conclusion. Then when I finished the video, I saw your comment.

[@bobegan2121]

And wilhelm had a no-hitter that year

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@bobegan2121, he was 34 or 35 then, and later, hung it up in 1972!!..

[@gynandroidhead]

It was against the Yankees. That was the last time a single pitcher would ever throw a no-hitter against the Yankees in a 9-inning game.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

Bob Uecker once said the easiest way to catch a knuckleball was to wait until it stopped rolling

[@davidahlstrom7533]

I remember Hoyt from his short stint with the Braves during their divisional run in 1969. He pitched very well in September for the Braves but unfortunately wasn't eligible to join the team in the playoffs against the Mets. Great pitcher and fun to watch. Miss the old knuckleball pitchers, not many these days.

[@azbdizzy4176]

I saw him pitch once for the braves vs the cardinals in St Louis late in his career. He was still getting people out.

[@larryloveless2967]

Born in 1953 I of course remember him well as an STL Cards fan as I looked up and saw he was in the majors for 21 seasons. I play Strat-o-matic Baseball and only have around 30 teams from the past. He's the closer on my 1954 New York Giants and 1964 White Sox teams. Great seeing him for real. He pitched so well for so long but for some reason his one season with the 1957 Cardinals I saw was not one of his better years.

[@howieduin915]

Born in 52 I also remember him well. I heard a story about him, but can't verify it. He pitched for 21 yrs. His 1st ever at bat, he hit a triple. His 2nd time at bat he hit a triple. Played more than 20 years and never hit another one

[@larryloveless2967]

@@howieduin915 Interesting. You could search internet using "New York Giants 1952" which was his first year and look at box scores under "Schedule and Results". It's tedious but a fun site of box scores.

[@larryloveless2967]

@@howieduin915 Forgot to mention in my comment the site you look for is Baseball-Reference. com with the the New York Giants name first and select it after the search and then click Schedule and Results within it. First, just search by New York Giants 1952 and you will see BaseballReference.com as a site to select.

[@wolfwinners]

I've played Strat-o-Matic since 1968!!!

[@craigmooring2091]

"Nothing helps you there [catching the knuckleball] but God, I guess." 😂🤣😂

[@danielfronc4304]

Nuckleballer brothers Phil and his brother Joe hold aTON of records to this day, including Phil being the only knuckleballer to win 300 (actually 318) games, most combined wins by brothers (539), Phil's 142 wins after age 40 the most ever, and 5,404 &1/3 innings pitched by any pitcher after the live ball 1920 season began. Those are just a few unbelievable records. Forget DiMaggio's 56 game streak, we'll never see the likes of another Phil Niekro. P.S. : Phil relied on the nuckleball more to get the third strike, setting up the batter with a number of pitches he could throw. The guy's dad taught them the knuckleball, called the "Rodney Dangerfield" of pitches as it topped out at 60 mph. Imagine being able to hit a 90 mph fastball but wiffing on a 60 mph knuckleball!

[@joerufo6778]

It has to be a Sunday morning. You can hear the church bells!

[@stevenattanasso2003]

Those bells in the 50's would ring to tell people to bring out Their dead ......

[@rstefanie2622]

Must have been a Sunday morning when this was taped, as you can hear church bells in the background.

[@danielfronc4304]

Or a day time game as there was a rather large parochial school close by RFK.

[@jamesmorrison7847]

I was about 5 years old when my grandpa took me to see him play against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium in 1958. I think he was with the White Sox at the time.

[@VandelayIndustries61]

Would have been with the Indians or the Orioles that year.

[@RestrictedAirspacePodcast]

Funny how the pentagon “plane” footage looks older than this.

[@Harrpyling]

as i recall wilhelm and porter only played one year together at cleveland. porter was primarily a bullpen catcher due to his weak hitting.

[@thesweetspottv8282]

This is fantastic!

[@tomservo5347]

Nevermind Wilhelm pitched all of those years with a piece a German shrapnel in his back, courtesy of the Battle of the Bulge. He was known as 'Old Sarge' in MLB circles.

[@dangelo1369]

Legendary announcer Bob Wolff(1920-2017) Voice of the Knicks, Pistons, NY Rangers, Baltimore Colts, Washington (Redskins), and Cleveland Browns.

[@enniswhalen2428]

@ DA 136 - I saw Hoyt Wilhelm in street clothes, walking into the ballpark in 1970, and I thought that he was a coach.

[@dangelo1369]

@@enniswhalen2428 J.W. (Jay) Porter passed away last year at the age of 87. Here's an article about him in the Palm Beach Post: www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/2020/10/13/j-w-porter-former-major-league-baseball-player-dies-jupiter/3640974001/ And today I found out that RHP Mike Marshall died at age 78.

[@enniswhalen2428]

@@dangelo1369 - Thank You!

[@haledwards4642]

Bob Wolff also teamed up with Joe Garagiola in the early 60's for the NBC Game of the Week.

[@brandonwilliams5144]

It’s unfortunate that baseball doesn’t have this aesthetic anymore /:

[@experimenttryingtouploadst1204]

@Mitch Qumstein For me it's the sense the analytics controls everything like it's some StratOMatic simulation. 2020 was so unusual it almost had me coming back till they removed Snell in Game 6 when they did. It's why I devote my energy to writing - I have a whole universe of baseball integrated from the start, for instance. (If curious, www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/doug-fowler/the-greatest-games-never-played/paperback/product-1vgmwwy2.html?page=1&pageSize=4 is one, they're at other sites,too)

[@neilm.greenberg4173]

@@experimenttryingtouploadst1204 actually, stratomatic simulations are more fun...there's still stolen bases, bunting and hit and runs...and no exploding scoreboards, screaming announcers, etc, etc...🤔

[@bobanderson6656]

@@scooter2163 No. In a country of 320 million people, there are proportionally very few incidences that can be remotely attributed to racism. It's been ginned up to raise money and gain political influence.

[@beavercleaver7848]

"My first love has always been to catch." It takes all kinds.

[@iamozzman990]

Not if he had to catch his knuckle ball, lol

[@tomitstube]

1957 and hoyt is already 35, he didn't get to the majors until he was 29 and would retire at 49. many baseball people didn't think his knuckler was practical, and he was even told to give it up after being let go in class d. but hoyt changed the game, he became the first full time knuckle ball pitcher and was part of the newest trend to use relievers strategically rather than taking over for someone struggling. he gives out some good tips here, he would also pass on his wisdom to wilbur wood and charlie hough, hough in turn teaching r.a. dickey the pitch.

[@haroldgillette7157]

Great age of baseball,my childhood years.Man ,was it fun....I was a Reds fan.

[@gnryushi]

This was awesome footage. Would love to go back in time and see a game during that era where there were no such things as collective bargaining agreements or multi-million dollar contracts or PEDs or...well you know what I mean.

[@edfulginiti8798]

...or millionaire politically correct kneelers...

[@gnryushi]

@@edfulginiti8798 Especially that.

[@gnielsen07]

Oh there were PED’s! They were called greenies. A massive portion of the players took speed

[@oldmanballer5088]

@@gnielsen07 not the same quality of today’s PEDs

[@bodensick]

Paul Richards the Orioles Manager had a special enlarged catchers glove made for Gus Triandos to catch Hoyt.

[@jimmykeefe2503]

thanks for uploading this

[@scottlink183]

Tremendous! Thank you!

[@Playbyplaymedia]

This film was probably shot at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.

[@wall171717]

1958 - only year Wilhelm and Porter were on the Cleveland club together.

[@Equalizer5]

What a pitcher, career era of 2.52, and he pitched till he was 49 years old. A magnificent career.

[@joedon1706]

Bob has one of the greatest voices in history.

[@144Donn]

Goodness, Bob Wolf! I remember him doing Knick games back in the early 70's with Kal Ramsey!

[@G.S.W.SewmesomeMusic]

Bob wolf! For a few minute I was a kid again! Thanks

[@seanremington1735]

Don't see many side arm knuckle. Love the church bells in the background!

[@mcedd54]

Hoyt Wilhelm and Gus Triandos, what a pitching/catching combination for the Baltimore Orioles. Anyone remember the oversized catcher's mitt Triandos used? Some great baseball days!

[@jwslijm7278]

One of the oldest footage i have seen about baseball (baseballplayer/pitcher).

[@bobbrown5951]

Last guy Isaw throw a knuckleball was RA Dickey with the Bluejays. What seems even more rare is a screwball. Last one I remember seeing was Fernando Valenzuela mostly with the Dodgers. He retired in 1997 with the Cardinals.

[@kmslegal7808]

The pitch takes a lot out of your arm to corkscrew it that way. Mike Cuellar had a good one

[@Rogeralberona]

This is an awesome video

[@rxflyfisher]

I remember Wilhelm from my childhood also and my father used to throw me knucklers when we played catch. I went on to play fast pitch softball and batted against a guy who threw a pretty crazy floater underhanded and fast. I never got a hit off him until the last game we played against him. It was the season championship game and I got up in the first inning with the based loaded. Somehow I launched one over the left field fence and the game was essentially over. Both pitchers only allowed 3 hits but that one made all the difference. I recall that often if the ball didn't move much, the big leaguers would get tagged for homers also. I just got lucky that evening.

[@Cogjim]

Knuckleballers didn’t worry about fatigue or require Tommy John surgery. It’s gone from today’s game but could be effective with so many free swingers.

[@carrite]

I remember Wilhelm (the greatest knuckleballer of all time) as a White Sox player from my youth. Pleased to have learned today that he played for my Orioles...

[@chestermicek]

What a talent & he's smart too.

[@waltwilliams7063]

the best thing about knuckleballers is that they're fast workers.

[@seththomas9105]

Satchel Page is supposedly the oldest player that played in the Majors, but Hoyt had to be right behind him.

[@danielfronc4304]

Julio Franco - oldest at 49 in 2007, Phil Niekro - second oldest at 48 in 1987 Satchel Paige - at "who cares if you're number three".

[@berniecohen5289]

As a Sox fan, I remember my radio at 2AM. Bob Elson:" Milo, I cannot understand it. We cannot touch the voodoo man

[@phmoffett]

Music of "The Lord's Prayer" in the background when Hoyt is giving his pitching demonstration.

[@pigdeal31]

The church hymn in the background is quite interesting. HEre's more on J. W. Porter, who is his own story of interest.

[@ExKUKicker]

Funny thing, I can't see any razor stubble as that ball whizzes by...😁

[@Diosprometheus]

In 1959, Oriole manager Paul Richards took Hoyt Wilhelm out of the bullpen and made him a starter. He went 15 -11. Led the AL in ERA 2.19. Started in 27 games. Completed 13. Pitched a career-high 226 innings. Struck on 139 batters and walked 77 batters.

[@dalethelander3781]

When Wilbur Wood was pitching for the White Sox, and since practically every pitch he threw was a knuckleball, the catcher used a glove made by Wilson called the "Big Bertha" to help catch that unpredictable pitch.

[@jameswarnecke2483]

Do you remember him throwing both ends of a doubleheader? I wasn't even a teen then

[@pigmeatmarkham898]

@@jameswarnecke2483 It wasn’t him. It was his protege, Wilbur Wood, to whom he taught the pitch. Thanks to learning the pitch from Wilhelm, he played for many seasons afterwards.

[@jameswarnecke2483]

I was replying to Dale

[@dalethelander3781]

@@jameswarnecke2483 There's a lot about the 70s I don't recall. I DO remember WLUP Disco Demolition. Admission was $1.98 and two disco albums. Then, hilarity ensued. I think Steve Dahl slunk out the back.

[@pigmeatmarkham898]

@@jameswarnecke2483 Sorry, totally missed that. I’m getting old, I guess.

[@andrewlewis3486]

Not to parrot the previous writer, but I noticed first the clarity of the film. Awesome!

[@normansilver905]

Hoyt baffled many big time batters. And they all respected him too.