Clipping:Defining a balk; pitchers' deliveries
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| Date | Saturday, July 7, 1866 |
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| Text | [from answers to correspondents] Nearly every pitcher has three movements in pitching: first, to bend the body; then, to draw back his arm; and third, to swing it forward to deliver. The moment he makes the first of these preliminary movements, and fails to follow it up by delivering the ball to the pitcher, he commits a baulk without doubt. The Association Book is standard authority, and the rule is plain enough. New York Clipper July 7, 1866 McBride’s pitching; what constitutes effective pitching; batters calling for high or low balls; fooling the umpire [Athletic vs Union of Morrisania 6/26/1866] The game opened very favorably for the Athletics, the Unions being unable to score a single run in their first three innings, they having had no such truly legitimate and effective pitching to contend against as McBride’s this season. New York Clipper July 7, 1866 Of one fact there is no doubt now in our minds, and that is that the Athletics have in McBride the most effective pitcher in the country. He is no swifter–if as swift–than Williams, of the Nationals: but he has far more command of the ball, and he pitches with more judgment than any pitcher we know of. For instance, if the batsman says he wants a low ball, it comes to him; but either too close to his body or too far out to be one to suit him. This, of course, outsiders do not perceive; they only see that the ball is sent in the right height indicated. And when the ball is sent in just when it can be fairly hit by the bat it is too low or too high; and when it does come in just in the right position, it happens that it is exactly when the batsman is unprepared to strike. Now, in the first instance, when a striker sees balls come to him the right height from the ground, and knows that the crowd think he ought to strike at them–they not knowing that they are out of reach or too close to him–he is apt to strike at a ball he cannot hit, a “tip” on a fair hit of course being the result; and so it is with the other style of balls sent him, and this style of thing it is that constitutes effective pitching, and which shows head work in delivery. Mere pace alone is nothing unless the command of the ball is its accompaniment, for without such command this strategical pitching cannot be indulged in. This is the secret of McBride’s success, and hence those who with to succeed against his pitching should offset his playing point in this with, with equal judgment in batting, a good umpire being an essential aid to the attainment of such success. New York Clipper July 7, 1866 |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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