Clipping:Throwing or jerking rather than pitching the ball
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| Date | Sunday, June 24, 1866 |
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| Text | When the Mutuals went to the field and McSweeny began to deliver the balls, it was apparent to all that instead of pitching he was throwing the ball. Several of the members of the Union Club began to object to this style...but as the Umpire in a match is the sole judge of fair or unfair play...and as the Umpire seemed to think it a fair pitch–on what grounds we know not–the unfair delivery was submitted to, and the game went on; but the Union Club will not play another match with the Mutuals, with McSweeny as pitcher, unless he changes his style of delivery and sends in a fair ball, which he certainly did not on this occasion. Baseball players, in judging of fair pitching, should be guided by the experience of first-class cricketers in the matter, for they are posted in regard to what constitutes [illegible]: a thrown ball by the bowler not being allowed in cricket, a straight arm, whether an underhand, round-arm, or over-the-shoulder delivery being requisite. The fact is, the Committee of Rules of the National Association ought to have properly defined fair pitching last year; had they done so the unfair delivery now in vogue would not have been permitted a day. No ball is pitched [illegible] that is not delivered with a straight arm, swinging perpendicularly with a free from the body of the pitcher. If his arm touches his side at all, the delivery is a jerk; and if his arm be bent at all, or not swinging perpendicular, like a pendulum, for instance–but, on the contrary, the elbow be bent outward from the body...then it is throwing, and not pitching; and it becomes the duty of the umpire to call a balk on every ball so delivered. |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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