Inbaseball, aslider is a type ofbreaking ball, a pitch that moves or "breaks" as it approaches the batter. Due to the grip and wrist motion, the slider typically exhibits more lateral movement when compared to other breaking balls, such as thecurveball.[1]
The slider is generally among the fastest breaking balls, commonly ranging 80 to 90 mph (130 to 140 km/h).[2] A variation of the slider, known as thesweeper, is characterized as being slightly slower, but having more lateral movement.[3] Pitches that exhibit qualities similar to that of both a slider and a curveball are referred to as aslurve.[4]
The grip for a slider is characterized as being similar to that of a fastball.[5] Like all pitches, the grip can take many different forms, with slight variations between pitchers suiting their individual preferences. A common feature in most slider grips is the index and middle finger being close to each other.[6]
The associated wrist motion often contributes a large amount to the pitch's movement, and is characterized by a moresupine positioning upon release. Like many other breaking balls, this motion can cause significant strain on the arm, and thus is not recommended for players under the age of 13.[7]
The slider will typically move laterally towards the pitcher's glove-side. For example, when thrown by a right-handed pitcher, from the pitcher's perspective, the pitch will "slide" from the right (thearm-side) to the left (theglove-side). When thrown by a left-handed pitcher, the pitch breaks in the opposite direction, moving from the left to the right.
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Many famous pitchers have been known for their slider.Hall of Fame pitcherRandy Johnson was well-known for his unusually fast slider, which he nicknamed "Mr. Snappy".[8] Other Hall of Fame pitchers renowned for their excellent slider includeSteve Carlton,Dennis Eckersley,Bob Gibson, andJohn Smoltz.
Other pitchers with notable sliders have included:
The innovator of the slider is debated, but some creditCharles Albert "Chief" Bender as the first to use the pitch.[9] Other players claimed to be the inventor includeGeorge Blaeholder andGeorge Uhle.[9]
