Carl Hubbell, for ten years one of the most brilliant pitchers in the National League, says, “A pitcher is the backbone of a team, and his job is the most tiring in baseball. It takes a rugged body, magnificent physical condition, an alert mind, and the courage of a lion to make a good pitcher!”
Bob Feller, the Cleveland Fireballer, says, “My dad Bill started my baseball career when I was nine years old. Every day
after school, when my chores at the form were over, Dad and I used to practice hitting, catching, and fielding until darkness set in. We listened to sports broadcasts and we studied every available book and magazine on baseball. Finally one day Dad said,
Bob, what do you think about being a pitcher?’ I answered I’d get as much fun striking out a hitter as I would hitting a homer myself. From that day on Dad spent many hours teaching me how to stand, how to hold the ball, end how to pitch to different types of hitters. I used to spend a lot of time firing a ball at a target (Dad’s catching glove).”
Lefty Gomez says, “Any fairly big youngster can be a successful pitcher if he will but work five times as hard and as long as the other players.”
Freddy Fitzsimmons, famous Giant and Dodger pitcher of yesteryear, says, “Pitching is an art that calls for work, work, and more work.”
So that’s the story, you can be a pitcher if you are willing to devote the time to it.
Position on the Mound. Most boys don’t know the correct and the legal method of taking their pitching stance on the mound. The rules require the pitch to be mode from a pitching rubber six inches wide and twenty four inches long.
Baseball Rule 27, Section One, states:
“Preliminary to pitching, the pitcher shall take his position facing the batsman with his pivot foot always on, or in front of, and in contact with the pitcher’s plate or rubber. (See Fig. 17) In the act of delivering the ball to the batter, the pitcher’s other foot is free except that he cannot step to either side of the rubber. He shall not raise either foot until in the act of delivering the ball to the batsman or in throwing too base. With a runner on first or second base the pitcher must face the batter with both hands holding the ball in front of him, If he raises his arms above his head or out in front, he must return to a natural pitcher’s position and stop before starting his delivery of a ball to the batter.
Figure 17 shows the correct position of the feet for a right-hand pitcher. In Figure 18 Hal Newhouser, Tiger southpaw, takes the correct stance on the rubber. Figure 19 shows the position of the feet with a man on base.
Figure 20 shows how Dizzy Dean, famous Cardinal hurler, got that extra hop on his fast ball. Dizzy has pivoted on his right foot, has slid it across the rubber and into the hole near the rubber. At the same time he has kicked his left foot high. The ball is hidden from the batters sight, and his hips are turned away Item the hitter. In Figure 21 Lefty Gomez rears back for the pitch. Figure 22 shows the follow-through of Harry “The Cat” Brecheen, star southpaw of the St. Louis Cardinals. Brecheen is in perfect position to field any ball in his area either to his right or left.
The Pitching Art (Control), Schoolboy Rowe and Bobby Feller are two of the fastest pitchers who ever wore big-league uniforms. Yet both insist that control is the most important asset of any young pitcher. Feller says, “At one time I was so wild I didn’t know where my next pitch was going, but constant practice against a target gave me the control I needed.” Mickey Harris, Red Sox ace, says, “Control is the greatest of all’ pitching assets. The pitcher should bear in mind that a fast ball, properly controlled, is the most effective.”
Control is essential to effective pitching, and the only way to acquire control is by practice. Ewell Blackwell, Hugh Casey, and Joe Page have spent hours every single day of the year working for control.
Figure 23 shows you how to set up o target in your back yard. First measure off sixty feet and six inches, Set up a pitcher’s mound and a home plate. Set the plate near a wall so that you can hang up and old piece of canvas. Cut a hole in the canvas where the strike zone would be and then keep pouring that fast ball into your target. Start out First with your half-speed ball. Then increase the speed until you can send the fast ball through the hole just about any time you want to. Don’t get discouraged. Keep working at this target, and after you begin to hit the target regularly, start on your curves. One warning from Bob Feller; “Do not attempt to throw any curves until you are fifteen years of age or you may hurt your arm!”
Pitching Form, the next time you are at a big-league ball game, watch the pitcher closely. Does he have a smooth, easy pitching motion? Can you see how he holds the ball for every pitch? Does he keep an eye on the men on base? Is he in position to field? All of these questions hove to be answered every time a Pitcher duels with a batter. When Feller first broke in with the Indians, he had a bad flow in his pitching form. It took a lot of hard work and practice until Bob developed the smooth form lie now has.
Figures 24 A to E show the fine pitching stance used by right-hander Dave Ferris of the Red Sox. At the beginning of a windup pitch the pivot or right foot of a right-handed pitcher is in contact with the pitching plate. The weight of the body is on the back foot. Figure B shows the start of Ferris's wind-up. The arms and hands come up with the ball which is well covered by the glove. Figure D shows the Ferris kick. The leg nearer the batter is raised very high. The ball is in the hand at its lowest level and the eyes are on the catcher. He keeps the ball behind his leg until he is ready for the pitch. Figure E shows Ferris with his front foot and leg kicked out toward the batter.
The front shoulder has been turned as for as possible without obstructing the view of the catcher. In Figure D the body is beginning to turn. The back foot is about to leave the pitching mound with a terrific drive. The pitching arm is whipping forward with great speed.
The delivery can be broken down into the stance, the wind-up, the kick, and the throw. Keep practicing pitching form. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and check your delivery with the illustrations.
