Baseball has always been a game of deception. From the earliest days of pitchers experimenting with grips and arm angles, the sport has rewarded those who could fool hitters and disrupt timing. Among the arsenal of pitches that have come and gone, few are as mysterious, misunderstood, and rare as the screwball. Once a go-to weapon for some of the game’s greatest pitchers, the screwball has largely disappeared from the modern game, but its history and mechanics remain fascinating.
A Brief History of the Screwball
The origins of the screwball trace back to the early 20th century. Christy Mathewson, a Hall of Fame pitcher for the New York Giants, is often credited with popularizing the pitch, though he famously referred to it as his “fadeaway.” Mathewson’s screwball baffled hitters during the Deadball Era, contributing to his 373 career wins.
Over the decades, the pitch was picked up by other greats. Carl Hubbell, another Giants legend, rode his devastating screwball to two MVP awards in the 1930s. He famously struck out five future Hall of Famers in succession—Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin—during the 1934 All-Star Game. More recently, pitchers like Fernando Valenzuela in the 1980s and John Franco in the 1990s kept the screwball alive. Valenzuela, in particular, became nearly unhittable during his early years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his screwball dancing away from right-handed hitters and in toward lefties.
Today, the pitch is nearly extinct in professional baseball. Concerns about its strain on the arm, combined with the rise of pitches like the slider, splitter, and changeup, have relegated the screwball to baseball lore. Still, its legacy endures through the dominance of those who mastered it.
What Makes the Screwball Unique?
The screwball’s defining feature is its movement, which runs opposite to most breaking pitches. For a right-handed pitcher, a traditional curveball breaks down and away from a right-handed hitter. The screwball, however, breaks down and in on righties—almost like a reverse curveball. This inverted spin comes from the unusual pronation of the wrist at release, which imparts sidespin and topspin that cause the ball to dive in the “wrong” direction.
This unusual movement makes the screwball especially effective against opposite-handed hitters. A right-handed screwball pitcher can neutralize left-handed batters, and a left-handed screwball pitcher can frustrate righties. In many ways, it serves a role similar to the modern changeup, disrupting timing and movement expectations, but with a more dramatic break.
How to Throw the Screwball
Mastering the screwball requires both technical precision and a tolerance for its unconventional mechanics. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Grip
Hold the ball similar to a circle changeup or two-seam fastball. The index and middle fingers are placed along the seams, with the thumb positioned beneath the ball for support. Some pitchers tuck their index finger slightly to enhance pronation at release. - Arm Action
Deliver the pitch with the same arm speed as a fastball. Deception is key—the hitter should not be able to detect the difference in delivery. - Pronation at Release
As the arm comes forward, pronate the wrist (turning it inward, like pouring out a can of soda). This pronation is what imparts the reverse spin, distinguishing the screwball from other offspeed pitches. - Follow-Through
A smooth follow-through is essential. Overpronation or forcing the motion can increase the risk of elbow or shoulder strain. The most successful screwball pitchers emphasize a natural motion rather than an exaggerated twist. - Location and Usage
The screwball is most effective when thrown low in the strike zone, breaking late into the hitter’s swing path. It is particularly useful in two-strike counts, where hitters are forced to protect the plate.
Why the Screwball Faded Away
The screwball’s decline in popularity is often linked to health concerns. Many pitching coaches warn that the extreme pronation can stress the elbow and lead to injury. While some pitchers, like Valenzuela and Franco, enjoyed long careers with the pitch, others may have avoided it out of caution.
Additionally, the rise of pitches like the slider and the changeup has provided pitchers with similar weapons that are easier to learn and perceived as safer. With advanced analytics guiding pitch usage today, teams often encourage pitchers to stick with fastball/slider/changeup combinations that maximize velocity and spin efficiency. The screwball, difficult to master and rare to teach, has simply fallen out of favor.
The Screwball’s Place in Baseball Lore
Though the screwball is seldom seen today, its impact on baseball is undeniable. It helped define the careers of Hall of Famers, humbled some of the greatest hitters of all time, and gave pitchers a weapon unlike any other. For young pitchers looking to stand out, learning the screwball could be a way to resurrect a lost art. After all, in a game built on unpredictability, there’s always room for one more pitch to keep hitters guessing.