<P> The knuckleball does provide some advantages to its practitioners . It does not need to be thrown hard (in fact, throwing too hard may diminish its effectiveness), and is therefore less taxing on the arm . This means knuckleball pitchers can throw more innings than other pitchers, and, requiring less time to recover after pitching, can pitch more frequently . The lower physical strain also fosters longer careers . Some knuckleballers have continued to pitch professionally well into their forties; examples include Tim Wakefield, Hoyt Wilhelm, R.A. Dickey, Charlie Hough, Tom Candiotti, and the brothers Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro . Pitchers like Bouton have found success as knuckleballers after their ability to throw hard declined . </P> <P> Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro, and Jesse Haines, three pitchers who primarily relied on the knuckleball, have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame . Additionally, Ted Lyons, another member of the Hall of Fame, relied heavily on the knuckleball after injuring his arm in 1931 . Niekro was given the nickname "Knucksie" during his career . Other prominent knuckleball pitchers have included Josh Turley, Joe Niekro (Phil's brother), Charlie Hough, Dave Jolly, Ben Flowers, Wilbur Wood, Barney Schultz, Tom Candiotti, Bob Purkey, Steve Sparks, Eddie Rommel, Tim Wakefield, Steven Wright, and Dickey . During the 1945 season, with talent depleted by call - ups to fight in World War II, the Washington Senators had a pitching rotation which included four knuckleball pitchers (Dutch Leonard, Johnny Niggeling, Mickey "Itsy Bitsy" Haefner and Roger Wolff) who combined for 60 complete games and 60 wins, carrying the Senators to second place . </P> <P> Dickey of the Atlanta Braves is one of only a few knuckleballers in the big leagues, joined by Steven Wright of the Boston Red Sox . Dickey routinely throws an unusually fast knuckleball at 80 mph (130 km / h). Minor leaguers Charlie Zink of the Lancaster Barnstormers, Joseph Zeller of the Peoria Chiefs, and Charlie Haeger of the Albuquerque Isotopes also throw the knuckleball . Dickey himself has taken an active involvement in helping younger knuckleballers coming through, and in 2012, he started providing personal coaching lessons to 18 - year - old knuckleball pitcher Stephen Orso . In November 2008, it was announced that 16 - year - old knuckleballer Eri Yoshida was drafted as the first woman ever to play in Japanese professional baseball for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent Baseball League . On March 2, 2010, she trained with Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox minor - league training facility . And on April 8, 2010, she signed with the Chico Outlaws, debuting on May 29, 2010 . Former Detroit Tigers reliever Eddie Bonine also throws a knuckleball, though he does so infrequently as compared to pitchers who use it as a primary pitch . Lance Niekro, son of Joe Niekro, attempted to convert from a position player to a knuckleball pitcher . He started the 2009 season with the Gulf Coast League Braves, but is currently retired and coaching college baseball at Florida Southern . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and pick it up . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3">--Bob Uecker </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who bowled the first knuckle ball in cricket