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Old 01-25-2008, 02:39 PM
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Default Christy Mathewson video

Posted By: PC

Kudos to whoever posted the video here before -- it is an all too brief view of the great Matty.

Jack/Dan -- a movie about this era, particularly the Giants and Cubs, would be great. Closest movie I can think of is "Cobb", but that's more about Cobb (obviously) than the era.

Anthony -- I've been coaching my son (and his team), so I too have been studying the mechanics of the pitchers in these old clips. I think Matty's warm-up motion was a little more straight up and down than his game motion, but by all accounts he wasn't a long strider. But that's ok. Walter Johnson was unique -- in addition the side-arm sling, it looks like he doesn't turn his right foot against the rubber (wierd, but obviously effective).

The Grover Cleveland Alexander and Satchel Paige clips are also outstanding ... both are textbook examples of pitching motions (the rocker step, leg kick, stride, etc.). Especially Paige, if you ignore the double arm swing thing (which is great to watch). Certain things are timeless.

But what all these guys do the same is the follow-through. Full, smooth extension, ending across the body and low and away. No wonder they were able to pitch so much, for so long -- they knew the best way to avoid injury was to never interrupt the follow-through.

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