Mother, teach your son to throw the knuckleball and maybe he will become an instant baseball hero like Tim Wakefield of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Knuckleballers are a rare breed, soft-tossers who throw without much exertion. They often pitch in the big leagues into their mid-40s, sometimes beyond. Hoyt Wilhelm, a Hall of Fame knuckleball artist of the previous generation, appeared in more than 1,000 games. He retired at the age of 49. His legs gave out, not his arm.
Baseball`s latest-and remarkably successful-knuckleballer is Wakefield, a rookie right-hander out of Melbourne, Fla. Wakefield, 26, goes against Tom Glavine, Atlanta`s 20-game winner, Tuesday night in Game 6 of the National League playoffs.
The Braves lead the best-of-seven series three games to two and need only one more victory to wrap up their second consecutive NL pennant. Wakefield is standing in their way, trying for a repeat performance of Game 3, when he gave the Pirates their first win of the series, 3-2 over Glavine.
The principal problem for a knuckleballer is sometimes the pitch doesn`t break much. When that happens, the batter`s eyes light up; he sees a beach ball, not a baseball, and whacks it into the wild blue yonder.
It happened to Wakefield twice Friday. Sid Bream connected in the fourth inning and Ron Gant in the seventh. Neither home run was fatal. They came with the bases empty. Wakefield has outstanding control and went the distance without giving up a walk.
Walks and wild pitches, along with the long ball, are occupational hazards. The catcher, as well as the hitter, doesn`t know when and how the ball will have its final break.
In his big-league debut July 31, when he was called up from the minors, Wakefield was charged with three wild pitches. Admittedly, he probably was nervous, but more than likely, it was the catcher`s fault. Best evidence that his receivers improved is that Wakefield didn`t have a single wild pitch in his last 12 regular-season starts.
His baseball history is typical. His mother didn`t want him to be a knuckleballer. She was unaware the four rotation starters of the 1945 Washington Senators were knuckleballers. Wilbur Wood is also a stranger, and it`s doubtful that she knows much, if anything, about the Niekro brothers, Phil and Joe.
Wakefield began his career as a first baseman in the Class A New York-Penn League. He batted .189, not enough for a first baseman. His minor-league manager saw him fooling around, trying different pitches. ”What`s that?” the manager asked. ”Oh, I think it`s a knuckleball,” replied Wakefield.
In his first full season on the mound in 1990 at Salem, Wakefield led the Carolina League in starts, innings pitched and walks. He also tied for the lead with 14 losses, had 11 wild pitches and hit 10 batters.
Promoted last year to Double A, he was 15-8. He opened this season with the Pirates` Triple-A Buffalo farm club, where he was 11-3. The Pirates, who needed pitching help, summoned him July 30. The next night, in his big-league debut, he beat the Cardinals with a complete-game six-hitter. He finished the regular season with a near-flawless 8-1 record.
Does he ever throw anything else?
More Top Picks 5
”No, basically, I`m a one-pitch pitcher,” he said. ”Here it is. If they hit it, they hit it.”
Is he aware that under normal circumstances, having seen him before, the hitters will improve their timing?
”I don`t think by seeing more than once, or seeing me twice, will give them an advantage,” Wakefield said.
What about the pressure? He`ll be carrying a big load. If he gets blown out Tuesday night, the Pirates aren`t likely to survive. It`s a tough assignment, especially for a rookie.
Wakefield paused, then replied, ”I`ve been raised not to put any pressure on myself. Even if I lose, my parents will still love me and the sun is going to come up tomorrow.”
Despite the icy approach, Wakefield acknowledged, ”This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I`m not going to let it slip by.”
If he doesn`t, Game 7 is Wednesday night, with Doug Drabek going for the Pirates, John Smoltz for the Braves.