As long as hitters have been trying to get the best of pitchers, those pitchers have been trying to develop pitches that will get them out. There is a subtle difference between some of these pitches, to be sure.
For instance, fans may have a tough time discerning a cut fastball from a slider. Also, one could argue that a four-seamer, a two-seamer, and a sinker are all fastballs. But in the hands of different pitchers, all of these pitches can be used to devastating effect.
Here is a list of some of the most common, or historical, pitches in baseball:
Fastball – The fastball is the primary pitch in baseball. Thrown properly, the ball can have some movement, but the key features of this pitch are velocity and control. Major league pitchers can throw fastballs with speeds topping 100 miles per hour.
Four-seam fastball – This is a fundamental pitch thrown by pitchers from Little League to the major leagues. A four-seam fastball will have little movement and is often used when the pitcher has to throw a strike. The pitcher holds the ball with his index and middle fingers directly across the widest seams of the baseball.
Two-seam fastball – This pitch is designed to have more movement than the four-seamer and tries to get the batter with movement rather than speed. The pitcher finds the spot on the baseball where the seams are closest together, and puts his index and middle fingers on those seams. The thumb goes under the ball on the smooth leather between the seams. The ball is gripped more tightly than a four-seam fastball.
Sinker – This variation of the two-seam fastball is used to get ground balls. A pitcher may go to this pitch when he needs a double play, for example. Pitchers experiment with finger pressure in an attempt to get the late downward movement that fools hitters.
Cut fastball (or cutter) – A cut fastball will be thrown slightly slower than a pitcher’s regular fastball. This pitch starts with a grip like a four-seam fastball, but more pressure will be used by the middle finger. The cutter is designed to look like a regular fastball, but it has late movement. Done well, the pitch often induces a weak ground ball. Mariano Rivera and Roy Halladay are known to use the cutter often and to great success.
Split-finger fastball (or splitter) – Bruce Sutter rode this pitch all the way to the Hall of Fame. This is a specialty pitch and is best for pitchers with large hands, because the ball needs to be placed with the index and middle fingers outside the widest seams, or horseshoe, and placed deep in the hand. This helps the pitch gain the downward movement it’s known for.
Slider – A slider is a breaking pitch that falls between the two-seam fastball and the curveball in terms of velocity. A slider may be 5-9 mph slower than a pitcher’s four-seam fastball and will break less than a curveball but more than a two-seam fastball. A slider has a similar grip to a two-seam fastball, but the pitcher moves his fingers to the side to rest his middle finger against the seam of the baseball. A good slider should have a tight break to it.
Curve ball – This is a true breaking ball. The pitch is thrown with lots of spin, and a pitcher uses his middle finger to create that spin. The ball is held with the hand making a C-shape, with the middle finger against one of the long seams. The pitcher pulls down with his middle finger to create spin. Curve balls can have lateral break or a sharp downward break, called a 12-to-6 curve ball. Adam Wainwright famously struck out Carlos Beltran with a 12-to-6 curveball to win the 2006 NL pennant for St. Louis.
Circle-Change – This pitch is effective for fooling batters looking for a fastball. The pitcher makes a circle (or “OK” sign) with his thumb and index finger. The ball is then placed in the center of the other three fingers, and placed back in the palm of the hand. A key to this pitch is the pitcher using the same arm location and speed as when he throws his fastball. This off-speed pitch is thrown 10-15 mph slower than a fastball.
Knuckleball – Recently-retired Tim Wakefield revived his career by learning this pitch. For this delivery, the pitcher tries to minimize the spin on the ball. In spite of its name, modern knuckleball pitchers usually use a fingertip grip on this pitch. This pitch is very unpredictable and will flutter or “dance” to the plate.
Spitball – I include this pitch because of its historical significance to baseball. The pitch has always been outlawed, but before the 1920 season the rule was not enforced, contributing greatly to the Dead Ball era. Normally, saliva (hence the name), petroleum jelly, or pine tar were placed on the ball, making its weight heavier on one side. The ball would then move erratically and be difficult for hitters to predict. Gaylord Perry was known to doctor the baseball and was suspended for ten games in 1982 for throwing illegal pitches.
Brad Boeker is a lifelong MLB fan. He coached high school baseball for seven years.