knuckles

there are lots of examples of cards - both specific subsets and cards featuring posed shots - that highlight different pitch grips. it's not as easy typically to find action shots with visible pitch grips, except maybe those that show the knuckleball.

when it comes to pitchers who threw the knuckleball, the dodgers have had their share, including tom candiotti.

that 1996 fleer e-motion xl card is one that i added via sportlots last year to help fill out an order and get me one card closer to a complete team set. i didn't know ahead of time that the grip would be featured.

this next candiotti card also came from sportlots, and actually completed a team set.

that 1994 fleer flair card shows candiotti with two different grips. i recall a couple of post-game interviews that he gave where he would talk about being a pitcher first and a knuckleballer second. perhaps he was frustrated being pigeonholed as a knuckleballer instead of being seen as a starting pitcher with a greater repertoire of pitches.

the first knuckleball pitcher i was aware of was charlie hough. his 1994 topps stadium club card shows him in his later years but still with the grip

i am never surprised to see the knuckleball grip on cards of candiotti, hough, niekro and the like, but i was surprised to see this john stuper card from 1985 fleer

i don't recall knowing stuper threw a knuckleball. perhaps he was experimenting or goofing off like i did in babe ruth and high school. i never did summon up the courage to throw one in a real game.

and then there is a gem like this 1996 topps stadium club kirby puckett card

puck is definitely messing around here, just like me and my teammates did while warming up, although i never did so in the skydome.