The curveball is probably one of the earliest pitches a ballplayer learns growing up. The pitch can leave a lot of hitters looking foolish at the plate if executed correctly. But where did the curveball come from?
Several people claim to have invented it but I will stick with the story of Hall of Famer William Arthur “Candy” Cummings.
As a teenager in 1863, Cummings was throwing seashells and admiring how they tend to curve in the air. When he picked up a baseball the thought of making the ball also curve came to mind. Cummings started practicing with different grips and throwing motions.
It wasn’t until 1867 while playing for the amateur team, the Brooklyn Excelsiors, that the curveball was debuted. Playing Harvard College with Cummings on the mound he faced Archibald Bush. The Boston Daily Globe reported a quote from Cummings on the pitch.
“Snapping the ball with a wrist movement and getting it to spin… When he struck at the ball it seemed to go about a foot beyond the end of his stick. I tried it again with the same result…”
But there is a little bit more of the story here. A lot of catchers at this time period stood well back of home plate making the fielding of a curveball nearly impossible. Cummings started playing for the Brooklyn Stars. He was able to use the curveball more when the Stars acquired catcher Nat Hicks who adjusted his fielding a pitch by standing directly behind the batter.
Not only did the curveball allow another dimension to the game of baseball, but it also revolutionized the catcher position.
Comments