Growing up in Omaha, Neb., Matt Waldron would play a baseball video game on his Nintendo GameCube as Tim Wakefield deployed a knuckleball over and over again. He would then toy with the pitch in the backyard with his twin brother, Mike, and sometimes use it on the field to mess with their teammates.
More than 15 years later, Waldron was sitting in an apartment in Fort Wayne, Ind., opening his laptop for a crash course in an endangered art. On the other end of the call was his childhood hero.director of pitching development. The call lasted two hours. Waldron, who grew up a Boston Red Sox fan, discussed finger pressure, mechanics, and routines. They had another call a few weeks later when Wakefield wanted an update about his progress.Waldron has become the game's only true knuckleballer.