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Who pitched sidearm?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 13, 2026

Though this is an effective strategy, some of the greatest starting pitchers in baseball history, notably Walter Johnson, Satchel Paige, Don Drysdale, Carl Mays, Dizzy Dean, and Randy Johnson, threw the ball sidearm.

Who pitches sidearm?

These pitchers (in lowest release to highest) are: Tyler Rogers, Adam Cimber, Ben Rowen, Eric Yardley, Joe Smith, Tim Hill, Aaron Northcraft. Looking at the total of the 7 pitchers, they have better stats against in every category vs. opposing hitters of the opposite side they throw from.

Are there any sidearm pitchers?

Though there have been stalwart sidearm and submarine pitchers — mostly relievers such as Dan Quisenberry, Kent Tekulve, Mike Myers, Brad Ziegler, Ted Abernathy, Gene Garber and, in the current crop, the tireless Joe Smith of the Houston Astros — players tend to be discouraged from throwing that way because coaches ...

Is side arm pitching good?

It is proven that sidearm pitchers are more prone to injuries than over the top pitchers. There is a lot of strain placed on the elbow and shoulder when throwing from the side. A college or pro scout does not want to invest in a young side arm pitcher who may get hurt later in his career.

Why do infielders throw sidearm?

The sidearm throwing motion is a way to counter balance the weight of the body moving from right to left when a shortstop fields a ground ball up the middle. It is a throwing motion that is fast and can be delivered on the move with much more accuracy than an over-the-shoulder throwing motion.

26 related questions found

Is it bad to throw a baseball sidearm?

There is a common myth that pitching sidearm or three-quarters to sidearm increases the risk of injury. However, there is no evidence to establish this link. Instead, making pitchers throw over the top can create posture changes that negatively affect performance.

Why do people pitch sidearm?

It is most common to hear that sidearm pitching places less stress on the elbow and shoulder, thus reducing a pitcher's risk of injury. It is also not uncommon to hear the opposite.

Are there any submarine pitchers in MLB?

Kent Tekulve and Gene Garber are among the most durable pitchers in baseball history with 1,944 appearances between the two. Past major league submariners include Carl Mays, Ted Abernathy, Elden Auker, Chad Bradford, Mark Eichhorn, Gene Garber, Kent Tekulve, Todd Frohwirth, and Dan Quisenberry.

What happens when you throw sidearm?

Nope, sidearm will not hurt your arm. Poor mechanics can hurt your arm from any arm-angle. As a young sidearmer, you will hear lots of dumb stuff from other kids, because they are simply not used to seeing many sidewinders.

Who is the best submarine pitcher of all time?

PITTSBURGH — RHP Kent Tekulve was one of the greatest submarine pitchers of all time. A 1969 graduate of Marietta College, he was an extraordinary closer who caused batters nightmares. During 16 years in the Major Leagues from 1974-1989, he posted a 2.85 ERA and saved 184 games.

Was Randy Johnson a sidearm pitcher?

Pitching style

In the prime of his career, Johnson's fastball was clocked as high as 102 mph (164 km/h), with a low three-quarters delivery (nearly sidearm). His signature pitch was a slider that broke down and away from left-handed hitters and down and in to right-handed hitters.

Who is the fastest sidearm pitcher?

There are the fireballing kind—Walter Johnson, Spud Chandler, Jeff Nelson and others of that ilk, who throw the serious cheese—over 90 miles an hour.

How do you throw a sidearm pitch?

A sidearm curveball is often gripped much the same as an overhand curveball, with one finger lying along a seam. It is also thrown the same as an overhand, except that with a sidearm delivery, the curveball will break much more from side to side, rather than from top to bottom.

How many MLB pitchers throw a knuckleball?

The knuckleball pitcher has vanished from the major leagues, an artifact like paper tickets and contact hitters. Of the 617 men to throw a pitch in the majors this season through Wednesday, according to Fangraphs, only four have thrown a knuckleball — and all four were position players.

How do I stop my child throwing sidearm?

Keeping your shoulders closed, through the initial drive and into front foot strike, will help create a more repeatable throwing motion. This also creates a "rubber band" effect in the body that is called Hips to Shoulder Separation.

How do you throw an underhand?

Technique:

  1. Hold the ball on seams with fingertips and raise your arm up in the 'Muscle Man' position.
  2. Swing the arm down and back behind the body.
  3. Step toward your target with foot opposite of your throwing arm.
  4. Keeping your arm close to the body, swing the arm back toward the target.

What is the rarest pitch in baseball?

Definition. A screwball is a breaking ball designed to move in the opposite direction of just about every other breaking pitch. It is one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, mostly because of the tax it can put on a pitcher's arm.

What pitch is illegal in baseball?

This seems to meet the definition of "illegal pitch" in the MLB rulebook, which reads, "An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate; (2) a quick return pitch. An illegal pitch when runners are on base is a balk."

Can a MLB pitcher throw underhand?

An MLB umpire confirmed pitching underhand is allowed.

Is it bad to throw sidearm in softball?

Is it bad to throw sidearm in softball? It depends – if your mechanics aren't good, you may throw sidearm because your body is compensating for problems. However, throwing sidearm is necessary when throwing on the run, when you field a ball on the move at weird angles, and many other times as an infielder or catcher.

Does throwing a curveball hurt your arm?

“There was no association between throwing curveballs and injuries or even arm pain,” said Johna Mihalik, who wrote the study. “It was surprising in a sense because of the conventional thinking about curveballs, but we were well aware that the studies by Dr. Andrews and Glenn Fleisig had come to similar conclusions.

What is the best arm slot for a pitcher?

Most pitchers throw from a high 3/4 delivery. The reason for this is because it enables pitchers to maximize their velocity and their command while also putting less strain on their arm than dropping down.

How do you throw a sidearm disc golf?

With the sidearm, you have to do all the work yourself. Grip the disc firmly but let your wrist remain loose. During the backswing, on the farthest point back, let the weight of the disc pull your wrist back so it cocks all the way. Then at the point of release, use your wrist to spin the disc as much as you can.