Nederlands | English | Deutsch | Türkçe

Project Sports

Questions and answers about sports

What pitches are illegal in baseball?

3 min read

Asked by: Noah Smith

An illegal pitch may be quick pitch (i.e. a pitch made before the batter is properly set in the batter’s box), a pitch made while the pitcher is not in contact with the pitching rubber, or one in which he takes an extra step while making his delivery.

What pitch is banned in baseball?

A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of a foreign substance such as saliva or petroleum jelly. This technique alters the wind resistance and weight on one side of the ball, causing it to move in an atypical manner.

What is the rarest pitch in baseball?

Definition. A screwball is a breaking ball designed to move in the opposite direction of just about every other breaking pitch. It is one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, mostly because of the tax it can put on a pitcher’s arm.

Is a spitball illegal?

Since Grimes’s retirement the spitball has been completely illegal in the majors, but some pitchers have been suspected of throwing it. Notable pitchers who admitted throwing the spitter include Preacher Roe, Don Drysdale, and Gaylord Perry.

Is an underhand pitch legal in baseball?

Basically, there’s nothing stopping you from pitching underhand in a baseball game. There’s no mention of prohibiting this type of throwing the ball in any baseball rulebook. Even though you’ll likely never see an underhand pitch in baseball, it’s still perfectly legal.

What is the nastiest pitch in baseball?

Pure filth: Ranking the 10 nastiest pitches in baseball in 2022

  • Kevin Gausman’s splitter. …
  • Corbin Burnes’ cutter. …
  • Carlos Rodon’s four-seam fastball. …
  • Joe Ryan’s four-seam fastball. …
  • Kyle Wright’s curveball. …
  • Alek Manoah’s sweeper. …
  • Jesus Luzardo’s curveball. …
  • Brad Keller’s slider.


Is the eephus pitch Legal?

Is the MLB Eephus Pitch Legal? The Eephus pitch is legal in Major League Baseball to throw. As long as the pitcher does not deceive the batter by slowing down in their pitching rotation, there is no issue. Since there is no minimum speed that a pitcher needs to pitch, a pitcher can mix this pitch in their arsenal.

Does anyone throw a screwball?

So did a perfect game in 1988 by the occasional screwballer Tom Browning of Cincinnati. You could spot the pitch well into this century, but over time it died out. Four months into the season, it’s safe to say that Santiago is the only pitcher who has thrown the screwball in a game this year.

Who threw the last legal spitball?

Burleigh Grimes

Burleigh Grimes broke into baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates 100 years ago in 1916 and ended his career as a Pirate throwing baseball’s last legal spitball in 1934.

Why are there no knuckleball pitchers?

The Knuckleball Can Devastate, So Why Don’t All Pitchers Throw It? : The Two-Way Teams haven’t typically tried to develop knuckleballers and players haven’t usually wanted to throw the pitch.

Is the gyro ball real?

A gyroball is a type of baseball pitch used primarily by players in Japan. It is thrown with a spiral-like spin, so that there is no Magnus force on the ball as it arrives at home plate. The gyroball is sometimes confused with the shuuto, another pitch used in Japan.

Are there any active knuckleballers?

Boston Red Sox right-hander Steven Wright is the only active knuckleballer in major league baseball, and he has been limited this season by a suspension and injuries.