Knuckleball!
2012
In 2012, a unique documentary focused on a small fraternity of pitchers who throw or have thrown the knuckleball pitch as their primary/exclusive pitch. Specifically, the lives of Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey are centralized to reveal the struggles and triumphs associated with being knuckleball pitchers. Past knuckleballers, including Wilbur Wood, Charlie Hough, Phil Niekro and Jim Bouton, interject their thoughts on this subject.
I had heard about this documentary when it came out during the year that R.A. Dickey went on to win the NL Cy Young Award. Overall, it is a slick production. The cinematography is very nice. The interviews are well done. The story arcs of Wakefield and Dickey are engaging and inspiring. Interweaving their respective personal/family lives into the fold also humanizes these two pitchers to show that it is not all glamour reaching and staying in the Big Leagues.
As far as a documentary, I would rate it 5 stars. I was not bored or disinterested at any point even though I generally knew the Big League stories of both Wakefield and Dickey. I did not know much about either pitchers rise to the Majors and for that part, I think it made all the difference. Both pitchers largely can credit any professional baseball success to mastering the knuckleball and relying upon that one pitch to become Major Leaguers. Without knowing how to throw the knuckleball pitch and being in organizations that have the patience to work with either of them, it is very doubtful Wakefield or Dickey see a day in the Majors.
5 stars
Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno
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