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The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist.

The forkball differs from the split-fingered fastball, however, in that the ball is jammed deeper between the first two fingers. The result is that the forkball is generally thrown slightly slower than the splitter, but will have more of a 'tumbling' action akin to the movement of a knuckleball.

[edit] Use in the Major Leagues

The forkball is favored by several current and former major league pitchers, including Hideo Nomo, Kazuhiro Sasaki, José Contreras, Chien-Ming Wang and Edwar Ramirez. In addition, a number of NPB players throw forkballs, including Kazumi Saitoh of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks who has ridden his forkball to two Eiji Sawamura awards. In actuality, the forkball is more popular than the splitter in Japan, and the vast majority of the best pitchers in Japan have one in their arsenal. Former Major League pitchers Dave Stewart and Melido Perez were two of the most highly regarded forkball pitchers in the late 1980s. Late in his career, the forkball was also used by Sandy Koufax. Jack Morris used a forkball as his primary strikeout pitch while winning more games than any other pitcher in the 1980s. Roy Face and Lindy McDaniel were relief pitchers who pitched for 21 years in the Major Leagues and were forkballers. Face started his career in 1949 and McDaniel in 1955.

[edit] Origin of the forkball

"Bullet" Joe Bush of the Boston Red Sox is credited with the invention of the forkball, shortly following World War I.^[1] However, it was popularized by former relief pitcher Elroy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[edit] Medical concerns

The forkball, if thrown correctly, is known to be a cause of significant and increasingly common damage to the shoulder and elbow. Famous forkballers, particularly Japanese players, have often required surgery to remove bone fractures or to repair damaged tendons, sometimes several times in their careers. Younger players should not attempt to throw the forkball before reaching the age of 17-18.^{[citation needed]} One such pitcher was former Yokohama BayStars and Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Wood, Allan (2000). Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox. San Jose ola: Writers Club Press. pp. 372. ISBN 0595148263. 

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