Today, I wanna talk about something a bit different, something that really got me hooked recently – the art of pitching like Gene Garber. Yeah, that Gene Garber, the guy famous for his funky, herky-jerky, submarine-style pitching. I’ve always been a fan of baseball, and let me tell you, trying to mimic Garber’s style has been a wild ride!
So, I started out watching some old clips of Garber’s games, and first I really watched the videos of Gene Garber many times and noticed how he pitched. Man, that guy’s motion was something else. He’d turn his back to the batter, wind up, and then fling the ball from down low, almost like he was tossing it underhand. It looked so weird, but it worked! I read somewhere that his change-up was his killer pitch, and it was all thanks to that bizarre delivery.
First thing I did was try to copy that weird stance, that look like a twist. I went out to my backyard, grabbed a baseball, and started practicing. Let me tell you, it felt awkward as hell. Turning my back to my imaginary batter felt so unnatural. I felt like I was going to fall over. It really needed a lot of time to practice and adjust myself, and finally I could stand like that.
- The Stance and Motion: It’s like you’re winding up for a regular pitch, but then you twist your body, show your back, and drop your arm down low.
Then came the arm motion. Garber didn’t just throw underhand; it was more like a sidearm, submarine thing. I tried to mimic that, dropping my arm way down and trying to get that same whip-like action. My shoulder started aching pretty quick, let me tell you! I could throw the ball out after many times, but it didn’t look so good, the ball always flew out of the area that I expected.
- The Delivery: This is the tricky part. It’s not just underhand; it’s a sidearm throw from a super low angle. It feels weird, but it’s key to getting that Garber magic.
I spent hours out there, throwing the ball against my garage door. My neighbors probably thought I’d lost it. But slowly, I started to get a feel for it. The ball wasn’t going exactly where I wanted it to, but it had this weird, dipping motion that I could see confusing a batter, I could see some potential there.
I kept at it, day after day. I’d watch more Garber clips, then go back out and practice some more. It was a grind, but I was determined to nail this thing. Then I found some info about Gene, he was born in 1947, and retired in 1988, which means he spent a lot of time on the field, I thought I should get ready for a long term practicing. And I also knew that Gene once pitched for the Pirates, Kansas City Royals. Wow, it must be really hard work for him, I must learn from his spirit.
Finally, after weeks of practice, I felt like I was starting to get somewhere. My pitches were still all over the place, but they had that signature Garber dip and wobble. I even managed to throw a few change-ups that felt pretty darn good.
The Results
Okay, I’m not going to lie, I’m nowhere near as good as Gene Garber. But I’ve gotten a hell of a lot better than when I started. It’s been a fun challenge, and I’ve learned a lot about pitching along the way. I also realized Gene was a great pitcher, he was the first relief pitcher to drop 7 decisions in his team’s first 50 games, that’s unbelievable.
It just goes to show, sometimes the weirdest techniques can be the most effective. I also read that he is a farmer now, and raises poultry for eggs, emu for emu oil, and they grow corn, wheat, soybeans with his sons in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. I think I should try it someday, maybe it’s another interesting thing to do. If you’re looking for a new pitching challenge, give the Gene Garber style a try. Just be prepared to look a little silly at first. And maybe warn your neighbors!
