# Can you pitch underhanded in MLB? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040 "2003-08-27T19:00:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chubbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Chubbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chubbs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/1 "2003-08-27T19:00:27Z")
I was watching some women’s softball and boy can they bring it. Is there a rule in Major League Baseball that won’t allow underhand pitching? I seen side arm pitchers but none completely underhanded. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/2 "2003-08-27T19:20:28Z")
Why would you want to? You are not going to get the speed, movement or control that you would get by throwing a baseball overhand. Believe me, although woman’s softball pitchers are fast they would be very hittable from 60 ft. 6 in. The closer distance to the plate makes hitting the softball harder. As far as it being a rule? I don’t think so (don’t have MLB rules). You probably could as long as your windup does not decieve any base runners. But than again I still can’t see why you would want to. ---
**Author:** ![epraz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/82dd89/32.png) [@epraz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epraz)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/3 "2003-08-27T19:30:16Z")
It’s allowed. Chad Bradford, a pitcher for the Oakland As pitches so underhand that his knuckles sometime touch the ground. (he’s also very good). They’re not common, but these pitchers are called submariners. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/4 "2003-08-27T19:33:35Z")
How about Dan Quisenberry, Gene Garber, Kent Tekulve? Oh, and let’s not forget Eldon Auker and Carl Mays, from the 1920s or so… ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/5 "2003-08-27T19:43:18Z")
FYI, The fastball pitch is only 70 mph which is a very good change up in the ML. [http://www.usaweekend.com/03\_issues/030824/030824olympics.html](http://www.usaweekend.com/03_issues/030824/030824olympics.html) Quote: * * * The recent University of Arizona grad’s lethal five-pitch repertoire and ability to hurl 70 mph heat – equivalent to more than 90 mph in baseball – helped Finch rack up an NCAA record 60 consecutive wins, back-to-back honors as the nation’s top collegiate female softball player and the admiration of major-league – read: male – players like the Texas Rangers’ Alex Rodriguez. Her pitching, he has said, “would be a challenge for anybody [to hit], even a big-league player.” * * * **epraz** , I wouild still consider Chad Bradford types overhand pitchers with a sidearm or submarine deliveries. His motion is nothing like a woman’s softball pitcher. Which is how I read the OP to mean. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/6 "2003-08-27T19:43:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\*. . . from the 1920s or so… \*\* I was so tempted. . . ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/7 "2003-08-27T19:55:25Z")
_Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy_ > [@](#): > > I was so tempted. . . 😕 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/8 "2003-08-27T20:05:21Z")
Deathray. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/9 "2003-08-27T20:51:05Z")
Which is a golden opportunity to bring up Byung Hyun Kim and his unusual sidearm delivery, which seems very effective (he’s one of the better relievers in the game). During the World Series someone among our circle of friends made the comment that it only seemed reasonable that the Diamondbacks would have among them a sidewinder! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/10 "2003-08-27T21:17:16Z")
Anyone ever heard of Eddie Feigner? [http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/](http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/) > [@](#): > > Feigner’s fastpitch was once timed at 104 mph … In a two-inning exhibition in 1967, he fanned Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. He’s nearing 80, but ‘The King’ still tours with his “Court.” ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/11 "2003-08-27T22:49:01Z")
It wasn’t until the late 19th century that you could throw overhand in baseball. Before that you had to throw underhand or sidearm. The first curveballs (whoever invented it still in dispute, although the Hall of Fame credits Candy Cummings) were thrown underhand. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/12 "2003-08-27T22:56:51Z")
[Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/munderha.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/13 "2003-08-27T23:06:09Z")
Anyone ever heard of Eddie Feigner? > [@](#): > > Feigner’s fastpitch was once timed at 104 mph … In a two-inning exhibition in 1967, he fanned Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente. He’s nearing 80, but ‘The King’ still tours with his “Court.” I’ve heard that he was absolutely unbelievable. I wonder why he never pitched in the in the major leagues? ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/14 "2003-08-27T23:08:05Z")
Sorry screwed that up. Everything above an including the quote was posted by Reeder. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/15 "2003-08-27T23:45:40Z")
I saw them play once back in my youth. He pitched from second base. It was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/16 "2003-08-27T23:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > \*\*[Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/munderha.html) \*\* Nitpick: Not Cecil. That was a Mailbag column. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/17 "2003-08-28T00:04:43Z")
Ditto on the King and His Court. I saw them when I was in high school some 20something years ago. No one could hit him if he didn’t want them to. He would warmup throwing 2 balls at a time to 2 players standing side by side. He could also throw 3 at a time to 3 players in a line. His fastball was just plain scary, even from 2nd base. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/18 "2003-08-28T07:14:34Z")
The difference between pitching underhanded like softball and submarine like Tekulve is that submariners are getting the whip action like a regular pitcher, which makes for more ball speed, unless you happen to be Feigner, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pitch-underhanded-in-mlb/198040/19 "2003-08-28T12:47:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I wouild still consider Chad Bradford types overhand pitchers with a sidearm or submarine deliveries. His motion is nothing like a woman’s softball pitcher. The reason baseball “underhanders” don’t use the same delivery as a softball pitcher is that the softball delivery takes longer and would make it easier for a baserunner to steal. There is no softball equivalent to the baseball “stretch” delivery.