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In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. It requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm and then throwing it as if throwing a fastball. This takes some of the velocity off the pitch, intending to make the batter swing before the ball reaches the plate.

Notable pitchers who have been known to throw the palmball include Steve Farr, Edwar Ramirez, Dave Giusti, Bob Stanley, Orlando Hernández, reliever Tony Fiore, Bryn Smith, "changeup" pitcher Trevor Hoffman^[1], Kenneth Brown and 1990s reliever Joe Boever. Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay was known to have thrown a palmball early in his career, though he rarely uses it today.

In earlier decades, the palmball was thrown by Ewell Blackwell, NL MVP winner Jim Konstanty, Cy Young Award winner Jim Palmer, and Satchel Paige. In 1968, Red Sox starter Ray Culp turned his career around by developing a palmball. Culp went 16-6 in 1968 and topped the Red Sox in wins from 1968-70.

[edit] Slip pitch

The slip pitch was a similar pitch taught by Paul Richards, to many young pitchers throughout Richards' career. As it is very similar to the palmball, slip pitch and palmball are often used interchangeably.

[edit] References

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