Daily Gallery: Outstanding knuckleballers

R.A. Dickey joins the Toronto Blue Jays coming off of a career season, winning the NL Cy Young Award as a member of the New York Mets. Dickey posted a 20-6 record, with a sparkling 2.73 E.R.A., and is the lone knuckleballer left in the major leagues. Here is a list of other knuckleballers who managed to baffle hitters like Dickey has.

Phil Niekro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, after an illustrious career that spanned 23 years. Niekro won 318 games, the most out of any knuckleball pitcher in history. The 73-year-old was a five-time all-star and a five-time Gold Glove award winner as well. After 19 years with the Atlanta Braves franchise, his number 35 was retired by the club.

Tim Wakefield became synonymous with his trademark pitch to a generation of baseball fans, winning 200 games on the strength of his knuckleball. The Melbourne, FL., native became part of Red Sox folklore as a member of the 2004 team that snapped an 86-year World Series drought, and would win another championship with the team in 2007. Wakefield also carries one all-star appearance in 2009 on his résumé.

Jim Bouton became more famous for his tell-all book, BALL FOUR as opposed to his actual pitching career. The Yankees pitcher cast a spotlight on some of the baseball world’s taboos at the time, and revealed the darker side of teammate Mickey Mantle particularly. Bouton’s 1963 season was by far his best, winning 21 games and a nod to the AL all-star team.

Charlie Hough pitched for 25 seasons in the major leagues, a daunting feat for any player. Hough was unfortunate to be the pitcher that Reggie Jackson hit his third home run off of in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. However, the 64-year-old had a very productive career, winning 216 games and making the AL all-star team in 1986. Hough also was the first starting pitcher in Florida Marlins history.

Eddie Cicotte was one of the first pitchers to use the knuckleball, and went by the nickname “Knuckles”. Cicotte won 214 games, and led the American League in wins in 1917 and 1919. However, Cicotte’s career was tarnished by scandal, as he confessed to being one of the eight players to fix the 1919 World Series and was subsequently banned from baseball.

Wilbur Wood, pictured far left was a three-time all-star, and led the major leagues in wins in back-to-back seasons in 1972-73. The 71-year-old finished second in AL Cy Young voting in 1972 for his accomplishments. Wood won 164 games, and carved out a 17-year career using the knuckleball.

Often cast in his brother Phil’s shadow, Joe was no slouch, winning 221 games throughout his career. Niekro was named to the 1979 All-Star game, and finished second in Cy Young Award voting that year. The 6’1 righty ended his career as a World Series champion with the 1987 Minnesota Twins. Niekro passed away at the age of 61 in October 2006.