Clipping:Technical terms of pitching
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| Date | Saturday, February 18, 1871 |
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| Text | The following are most of the technical terms used in reference to the pitcher’s department:– A Balk.–A balk is made when the pitcher either throws, jerks, or bowls a ball; or if he steps outside the lines of his position when making any of the preliminary movements in delivering the ball to the bat, or if he fails to deliver it after making one or other of such movements. A Bowled Ball.–If a ball be bowled along the ground to the bat, the umpire it required to call a balk. Called Balls.–A called ball is the penalty inflicted on the pitcher for sending a ball to the bat out of the striker’s legitimate reach. Chances.–A chance in base ball means an opportunity afforded off the pitching for the fielders to put a player out. A pitcher is never “punished” so long as his pitching affords chances for outs, no matter how many runs the opposing side may score in the game. Dropping the Pace.–This term is applied when the pitcher lessens the speed of his delivery and substitutes a medium paced ball for a swift one. It is very effective in some cases. Headwork.–This term is applied to a pitcher who uses his judgment in his work and brings mental power into play to aid physical skill. Over-pitch.–This term is applied to a ball which is pitched over the catcher’s head, out of his reach, or so wide of his position, on one side or the other, as to be just as much out of reach as in the first instance. Pitcher’s Points.–These are the two iron quoits laid down on the centre of the front and back line of the pitcher’s position. Punishing the Pitcher.–The pitcher is “punished” when the balls he pitches to the bat are easily hit to the field in such a manner as to prevent them from being fielded to put either the batsman or a base runner out. No pitcher is “punished” simply because runs are easily scored by his opponents, but only when bases are earned by clean hits off his pitching. Pace.–This is the technical term applied to the degree of speed with which the ball is pitched to the bat. There are three degrees of pace, viz.–swift, medium and slow. Creighton was the swift pitcher, par excellence, and Martin is the representative medium-paced pitcher. The best slow pitcher is the man who can toss in a ball to the bat which is most likely to deceive the eye of the batsman by the peculiar curve of the line of its delivery. Slows.–“Slows” are balls simply tossed to the bat with a line of delivery so curved as to make them almost drop on the home base. When tossed in by a pitcher who has command of the ball, and who knows the weak points of his batting opponents, this style of delivery can be made very effective, but otherwise slow pitching is easy to punish. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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