anyone else sorta excited about a possible knuckleballer on the sox someday?

 

 

Knuckling Down

 

For proof that predicting future major leaguers is hard, just look back to Charlie Haeger’s 2004 season in Bristol.

 

The knuckleballing righthander went 1-6 with a 5.18 earned run average. Although the team around him wasn’t great, Haeger also gave up 70 hits and 41 runs in 57 1/3 innings.

 

One year later, Haeger is a lot closer to Chicago than he is to Bristol. Mastering his unpredictable flutterball, Haeger went 8-2 at Winston-Salem of the Carolina League, winning a promotion to Birmingham of the Southern League.

 

Haeger has won his first two starts in Birmingham, including a 16-4 decision at Carolina on June 27, when he worked seven innings and allowed just one run.

 

The timing couldn’t be better for Haeger, who will turn 23 in September and needed a big season to get on the White Sox’s radar.

 

If he keeps getting hitters out, Haeger could become Chicago’s first knuckleballer since Wilbur Wood was flummoxing batters in the early and mid 1970s.

 

And who could have forecast that a year ago?

 

bdent@bristolnews.com | (276) 669-2181

anyone else sorta excited about a possible knuckleballer on the sox someday?

Knuckling Down

 

For proof that predicting future major leaguers is hard, just look back to Charlie Haeger’s 2004 season in Bristol.

 

The knuckleballing righthander went 1-6 with a 5.18 earned run average. Although the team around him wasn’t great, Haeger also gave up 70 hits and 41 runs in 57 1/3 innings.

 

One year later, Haeger is a lot closer to Chicago than he is to Bristol. Mastering his unpredictable flutterball, Haeger went 8-2 at Winston-Salem of the Carolina League, winning a promotion to Birmingham of the Southern League.

 

Haeger has won his first two starts in Birmingham, including a 16-4 decision at Carolina on June 27, when he worked seven innings and allowed just one run.

 

The timing couldn’t be better for Haeger, who will turn 23 in September and needed a big season to get on the White Sox’s radar.

 

If he keeps getting hitters out, Haeger could become Chicago’s first knuckleballer since Wilbur Wood was flummoxing batters in the early and mid 1970s.

 

And who could have forecast that a year ago?

 

bdent@bristolnews.com | (276) 669-2181

 

WRONG!!! Charlie Hough was the last knuckleballer the White Sox had.

WRONG!!!  Charlie Hough was the last knuckleballer the White Sox had.

 

This schmuck deserves to be fired. That's just poor reporting.

I thought he was only 21?

WRONG!!!  Charlie Hough was the last knuckleballer the White Sox had.

Hough had a knuckleball but it was not his primary pitch. Wood was a pure knuckleballer.

Hough had a knuckleball but it was not his primary pitch. Wood was a pure knuckleballer.

I dont recall Hough throwing any other pitch more than his knuckler.

I dont recall Hough throwing any other pitch more than his knuckler.

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You are correct, Hough threw the knuckleball almost exclusively.

Hough had a knuckleball but it was not his primary pitch. Wood was a pure knuckleballer.

 

Hough's "fastball" barely hit 80. I remember Hawk and Wimpy laughing when he would throw that pitch. It absolutely was his primary pitch.

Hough had a knuckleball but it was not his primary pitch. Wood was a pure knuckleballer.

 

Are you serious? Did you ever watch Charlie pitch a game?

Charlie Hough, major league knuckleballer, played 25 seasons in the major leagues, from 1970 to 1995. Charlie began his career with the Dodgers, staying there until being traded to the Rangers in 1980. While a Ranger, Charlie pitched in the 1986 All-Star Game, and set many Ranger records. After the 1990 season, Charlie left to sign with the White Sox as a free agent. After the 1992 season, Charlie was again a free agent and chose to sign with the expansion Florida Marlins. He stayed with the team until his retirement after the 1994 season. As a Marlin, he got the first win and strikeout in franchise history. Charlie finished his career with a 216-216 record, despite spending most of his Dodger years as a reliever. He had a 3.75 ERA, 2362 strikeouts, and only 1665 walks.