This little book will teach you all you need to know about the most frustrating yet entertaining pitch in baseball: the knuckleball. It makes batters look foolish when it works; it embarrasses pitchers when it doesn't...or if it works too well. It humiliates catchers and umpires. It confounds spectators. Dave Clark has spent most of a lifetime studying the knuckleball, talking to the major league pitchers who have thrown it, and throwing a few of his own. His book explains the strange workings of the pitch and how it's used, no matter what your interest—whether you're a pitcher, batter, catcher, umpire, coach, spectator, or parent of any of the above. Everything Mr. Clark demonstrates in The Knucklebook is carefully illustrated with line drawings, so if you're an average high school pitcher who can throw strikes, you'll be able to throw a knuckleball exactly like a legendary Hall of Famer. You'll find appropriate and hilarious comments from those who have experienced the game of baseball as it's been affected by the wandering floater. Like those who throw the knuckler, all this information was scattered to far-flung corners of the baseball world until Mr. Clark gathered and compiled it. Reading his little book, you'll end up less mystified and more enlightened about this antic pitch. Or, like the pitch itself, you can just ride the breezes and enjoy the dancing flight from beginning to end. With 51 black-and-white line drawings.

This little book will teach you all you need to know about the most frustrating yet entertaining pitch in baseball: the knuckleball. "Clark masterfully breaks down the pitch, the mindset, and could save the pitch from extinction with this important work."--Will Carroll.

Father. Fighter. Champion. Outlaw. Hailed as an “exhilarating debut” by Publishers Weekly, Bare Knuckle by former Rolling Stone editor Stayton Bonner (nominated for the Dan Jenkins Medal of Excellence in Sportswriting) takes readers into a previously unknown world: the underground circuit of illegal bare-knuckle fighting. Bare Knuckle is the remarkable true tale of Bobby Gunn, the 73–0 undisputed champion of bare-knuckle boxing. An inspiring underdog story that reads like a real-life Rocky. Bobby Gunn has been fighting for his existence since a childhood spent living under the hand of his volatile father, and would do anything to give his seven-year-old daughter a better life—including betting on himself in the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing. In 1984, Gunn was an eleven-year-old boxer in Ontario when his father woke him in the middle of the night to fight grown men in motel parking lots for money, his old man pocketing the cash. From there, Gunn traveled to Las Vegas, Tijuana, and beyond, competing in ringed matches as well as in biker bars and mobster dens on the side, brawling to make ends meet. But it was only with the birth of his daughter—and his desire to help her avoid his fate—that Gunn entered the big-time world of underground Russian-mob matches of up to $50,000 a night in New York City, hoping to finally raise his family above the fray. Former Rolling Stone editor Stayton Bonner travels the underground for years with Gunn, the world champion of bare-knuckle boxing with a 73–0 record, shining a light on a secret circuit that’s never before been revealed. Along the way, we explore the fascinating history of this first sport in America, Gunn’s Irish Traveler community—a sect of religious fighters best known through Brad Pitt’s depiction in Snatch—as well as his part in the improbable rise of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the first legal revival of the sport. Bare Knuckle, a tale of triumph, loss, and a father’s love for his family, is a heartbreaking but ultimately inspiring story that will have you rooting until the end.

Presents a detailed overview of the knuckleball, a pitch used in baseball, and provides information on its history, as well as how to throw it, how to hit it, how to catch it, and more.

Irish travellers live in a closed community. What we think we know about them is based on hearsay, rumour and stereotype. But not any more.

Traces the histories of the spitball, the knucklecurve and the knuckleball and explains throwing techniques.

'There’s no match for the sliced and buttered loaves of The Dusty Knuckle.' – Yotam Ottolenghi 'If you've never experienced the joy of a Dusty Knuckle sandwich IRL then this book will plug the massive gap in your life.' – Ravneet Gill 'A gorgeous book from my favourite bakery, crammed full of delicious, delightful recipes full of heart and soul.' – Jessie Ware The Dusty Knuckle is a celebration of recipes packed with flavour from east London’s favourite bakery. Full of practical, easy-to-follow instructions for mixing, fermenting and shaping, this resourceful cookbook includes everything you need to know to get to grips with dough at home. From legendary Potato Sourdough to unforgettable Focaccia, there are plenty of savoury bakes to enjoy. Delicious, buttery goodness follows, starting with sweet, yeasted doughs, then moving to pastry and much more. These detailed chapters prove that there really is no better satisfaction than baking from scratch. As well as the step-by-step baking guides, you’ll find an epic collection of recipes for Dusty Knuckle’s infamous two-hander sandwiches and moreish soups, herby salads, and citrusy sauces to enjoy on, in and with bread. Whether it’s Meatballs with Melted Cheese or indulgent Porchetta; Squash, Crispy Sage and Chilli Butter or Charred Hispi with Romesco, there’s something for everyone.