A Journey with Baseball’s Unconventional Pitch

In the summer of 2012, when pitcher R.A. Dickey surprised everyone by winning the Cy Young award, my sons began experimenting with the knuckleball in our backyard. This unique pitch, known for its slow speed and lack of spin, has helped many underdogs in baseball achieve greatness. I decided to see how far my kids could go with it. Along the way, I realized they weren’t alone in their ambitions. Two wealthy businessmen shared similar dreams, which I explore in my book, School of Hard Knucks: My Three Sons and Baseball’s Wildest Pitch.

Brooklyn real estate investor Howard Rich, known for advocating free-market principles, was mesmerized by Dickey’s knuckleball while attending Mets games. He pondered why so few pitchers used this challenging pitch. Rich saw an opportunity and founded the International Knuckleball Academy (IKA). He enlisted two minor league pitchers, Chris Nowlin and Zach Staniewicz, to lead the effort.

Across the world, South Korean businessman Min Hur, once a video game industry leader, pursued his dream of playing professional baseball. He believed mastering the knuckleball could give him a chance. Hur transformed the roof of his office in Seoul into a state-of-the-art pitching facility. He also learned from the legendary Phil Niekro and worked with Charlie Hough, both renowned knuckleballers.

In 2013, Hur’s persistence landed him tryouts with several MLB teams. Although they didn’t pan out, the independent minor league team Rockland Boulders gave him a chance. Hur commuted daily from Manhattan with his chauffeur and translator, ultimately making the team. His debut as a professional player was publicized as “Min-Sanity,” drawing interest from New York’s Korean communities.

Rich heard about Hur’s journey and suggested collaborating with the IKA. He met with Hur and the academy leaders in Koreatown, but the language barrier limited their discussions. Pressing on, Rich rented Dodgertown, former training grounds for the Los Angeles Dodgers, to host the IKA. Staniewicz, however, was doubtful about its viability, considering the limited appeal of learning the knuckleball.

Even with a financing plan offering free attendance initially, the IKA struggled to attract students. Ultimately, it closed without enrolling a single participant.

Meanwhile, Hur continues his quest. I recently reunited with him at a Manhattan batting cage. Fresh from a stint with the Melbourne Aces in Australia, he was meeting with a coach from Buffalo. Despite being 50 years old, an age that would typically mark the end of a baseball career, Hur remains optimistic about his future in knuckleball pitching.

As he commented to me, I’m better than ever.