Hall of Fame reliever Hoyt Wilhelm is venerated as one of the greatest knuckleball pitchers of all time – and one of the most difficult pitchers of any kind to catch. A season after the Orioles produced a Major League record 49 passed balls in 1959 – 38 of which came with Wilhelm on the mound – Baltimore manager Paul Richards designed a massive catcher’s glove to mitigate the unpredictable nature of the knuckleball. Catcher Clint Courtney first used it on May 27th, 1960, catching a complete game win for Wilhelm.
Mick Gillispie told the story in the sixth inning of Tennessee’s game with the Huntsville Stars.
Andrew Green
James Rowe
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