Clipping:Straight pitching vs. the curved-line delivery
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| Date | Saturday, November 4, 1876 |
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| Text | The introduction of underhand throwing in delivering the ball to the bat has brought into play a very effective method, which has, in a measure, almost superseded the old style of pitching; we refer to the curved-line delivery, which characterizes the new school of pitcher, of which Bradley, Devlin, Bond and Mathews are the more prominent exemplars. College professors and well-known theorists deny that such a thing is possible; that is, the curving of a ball in the air, except through the medium of the attraction of gravity, or from the effect of a strong wind, the former causing the natural curve of a cannon ball as it is attracted to the earth, while the latter would of course produce a horizontal curve. But practical experience has conclusively shown by ocular demonstration that a ball can be thrown from the hand in such a way as to form a curved line from the hand to the objective point the ball first touches, and this curve is not that of the attraction of gravity, nor that caused by the effect of a strong wind. We have seen well-known baseball players—George Hall, for instance—throw a ball so as to make it curve horizontally, and against the wind as plainly as the curve of gravity was described. The power to impart this singular bias to the ball is possessed, too, in underhand throwing; and this it is which gives the advantage to underhand throwers who act as pitchers over the old style “straight” pitchers—that is, those who cannot impart the bias to the ball which produces the curve. It is useless for scientific people to assert that no such curve is possible, in the face of the conclusive practical evidence which can be afforded to the contrary. What is known as “straight” pitching is not simply that which characterizes a perfect command of the ball with the consequent accuracy of aim in delivery, but merely the method of delivery in which no horizontal curve is produced. It is a term used in contradistinction to that of the curved-line pitching only. This school of pitchers has prevailed since the days of Creighton, who inaugurated it; and its latest and most effective exemplars are Spalding and McBride. Previous to the advent of the “curved-line” pitcher the leading batsmen of the day found it difficult to successfully face the strategic delivery of McBride and Spalding; but since they have batted against the curved-line batteries, and had their sight trained to judge the difficult and uncertain balls from the curved-line pitchers, they have been enabled to punish this old school with comparative ease. There is one reason why such excellent pitchers as Spalding and McBride have been punished of late. A pitcher who possesses endurance to last through a long game, the ability to send in a swift ball, and that thorough command of the ball which enables him to send it in to any point he chooses, combined with judgment and skill, must always be valuable, even if he does not possess the power to impart the peculiar curve to the ball in question, while the player who has nothing but “pace” and the “curve” to aid him must always be his inferior. Of course, a combination of these elements of success must necessarily produce the pitcher par excellence. Experience the past season has pretty conclusively shown that the curved-line pitcher who has no proper command of the ball is a pretty costly elephant on the hands of a club manager. Whatever advantage may accrue from his peculiar delivery is more than offset by its cost in “called” and “passed” balls, not to mention its discouraging effects on the play of the field support of the team. Were the power to impart the curve to the ball as much at command as that which controls the delivery to the bat, things would not be so bad; but when it is a sort of accidental thing, the curve being imparted involuntarily, as it were, it necessarily follows that the utmost activity and fielding skill are required in the catcher behind the bat, to avoid the penalty the wild delivery involves. There is one drawback to the effectiveness of the work of a curved-line pitcher which club-managers on the lookout for one of the new school would do well to remembers, and that is the necessity of such a pitcher having the best of catchers to support him. In the case of a straight pitcher, the latter can accommodate his pace to hic catcher; but a curved-line pitcher cannot do this, for the reason that he can only produce the curve with any effect when he puts on the pace. It will readily be seen, therefore, how important it is that the catcher should be one of the best men in his position, for without such support all the advantage of the curved-line delivery would be lost by its being offset by costly errors. We do not suppose that this school will supersede the old straight delivery; but doubtless the new style will now and then develop some individual star who will combine in himself the elements of both styles. Such play as this, however, can never become a general thing. Some men are born ball-players—that is, they possess extraordinary abilities to excel in the game. Others are not, nor can training and practice—excellent as they are—compensate for the absence of natural qualifications. Hence, in regard to pitchers, there will now and then appear on the ball-field some man who possesses the combination of pitching excellence referred to; but, as a general thing, the straight-pitchers will be found the best class to rely upon. Spalding—a straight pitcher—was enabled to achieve a success for his club which Bradley—who seems to combine the abilities of both classes of pitchers to a certain extent—was unable to do for his club; and certainly McBride would have taken the Athletics through the season more successfully than any of their curved-line experimental pitchers were enabled to do. The Bostons found the curved-line experiment a pretty costly one, and it is questionable whether another season's trial of it will be of advantage to them to the point expected. St. Louis may again rely upon it is 1877. In fact, the furor for curved-line pitchers appears to be just at its height, the semi-professional clubs having the fever badly. Club-managers would do well to remember that a curved-line pitcher who has not thorough command of the ball will lose more games in the long run than he will win. Also that such a pitcher requires a more than ordinarily skillful and active catcher, if not two or three of them, for few can stand the pressure of even half a season's support of a curved-line pacer, who has little if any command of the ball. Of course, experience at the bat will in time offset the advantages the field side derive from the curved-line delivery, and then they will have to fall back on the strategic skill of the straight pitcher. Given equal support in the field, and equal raining skill and harmonious work, we would sooner rely upon Spalding and pitchers of his ability than upon the best curved-line pitchers in the fraternity. The former tells the better in the long run. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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