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It’s probably the most unhittable pitch in baseball (with apologies to any pitch ever thrown by Sandy Koufax). And it may be the most unpitchable.
The knuckleball is slow, it doesn’t rotate, and it doesn’t offer many clues as to where it will end up. But one pitcher, more than any, is associated with the knuckleball, and was such a master of its unpredictability that it floated him all the way to Cooperstown.
Hoyt Wilhelm broke into the major leagues with the New York Giants in 1952 – as a 29-year-old rookie. That year he led the National League in winning percentage (.833 on a 15-3 record), in games pitched (71, all in relief) and in earned run average (2.43). In his first major league at-bat, he hit a home run (the only one of his career).
For more than 2 decades thereafter, Wilhelm remained one of the game’s most durable and productive relievers. He entered the 1960s in the middle of a 5-year stretch with the Baltimore Orioles. After a brief stint as a starter for the Orioles (in his first major league start, he pitched a no-hitter), Wilhelm recorded 33 saves over the next 2 years, second best in the American League to Luis Arroyo’s 36. Then he was traded to the White Sox in the deal that brought Luis Aparicio to the Orioles. In 6 years with Chicago, Wilhelm appeared in 361 games for the White Sox, all but 3 as a reliever. He saved 98 games, with an ERA of 1.92 for the 6 years combined. Wilhelm closed out the 1960s by splitting the 1969 season between the California Angels and the Atlanta Braves, with a total of 14 saves and a combined ERA of 2.19.
Throughout the 1960s, no relief pitcher was as consistently effective as Wilhelm. During those 10 years, he won 75 games and saved 152 more, with an ERA of 2.19 for the decade. His career lasted 2 years beyond the 1960s, with his retirement after the 1971 season at age 48. His 1,070 career appearances were the major league record at the time Wilhelm called it quits.
Today Wilhelm still ranks fifth in most career games by a pitcher. He remains the all-time major league leader in career wins in relief (124) and career innings pitched in relief (1,871). Opponents’ career batting average against Wilhelm was only .216, lower than batters’ career averages against fellow Hall-of-Famers Tom Seaver (.226), Catfish Hunter (.231) and Rollie Fingers (.235).
An 8-time All-Star, Wilhelm was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Looking for Hoyt Wilhelm's stats? In Hardball Bob's opinion, the best source for online statistics is Baseball-Reference.com. For Hoyt's career stats, go here.
Hoyt Wilhelm is one of the 1960s baseball stars featured in 60 From The ‘60s: 60 Players Who Made the 1960s Baseball’s Real Golden Age. It’s a great introduction to baseball the way the game was meant to be played … without free agents, designated hitters or advanced chemistry. Check it out at http://www.60fromthe60s.com
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