by Tyler Kepner
First published 2019
Tyler Kepner examines how ten fundamental pitches evolved throughout baseball history. The New York Times columnist draws from extensive archival research and conversations with over three hundred players, coaches, and baseball figures. Each chapter focuses on a single pitch type, tracing its development from early innovators to modern masters. Kepner explores the fastball's raw power, the curveball's deceptive break, the knuckleball's unpredictable flutter, and seven other pitches that define the sport. Hall of Fame legends like Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, and Nolan Ryan share insights alongside contemporary stars including Greg Maddux, Mariano Rivera, and Clayton Kershaw. The book reveals how slight grip adjustments can transform ordinary throws into weapons that baffle elite hitters. Kepner chronicles the mental battle between pitcher and batter across sixty feet and six inches of diamond. From Candy Cummings inventing the curveball while throwing clamshells on a Brooklyn beach to modern pitch development, the author captures baseball's continuous innovation and the passionate craftsmen who perfect their art.
Genres: history, sports, non-fiction, baseball
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-nonfiction
Setting: Brooklyn
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday