Palmball

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In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. It requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm and then throwing it as if throwing a fastball. This takes some of the velocity off the pitch, intending to make the batter swing before the ball reaches the plate.

Notable pitchers who have been known to throw the palmball include Orlando Hernandez of the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles reliever Tony Fiore, infamous "changeup" pitcher Trevor Hoffman [1], and 1990s reliever Joe Boever.

In earlier decades, the palmball was thrown by Ewell Blackwell, 1950 Cy Young Award Winner Jim Konstanty, Dave Giusti, Jim Palmer, and Satchel Paige.

[edit] Slip Pitch

The slip pitch was a similar pitch taught by Paul Richards to many young pitchers throughout Richards' career. As it is very similar to the palmball, slip pitch and palmball are often used interchangeably.