As part of our celebration of America 250, MLB's content team has created 25 top 10 lists that capture the plays, people, rituals and moments that make baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.
1. Satchel Paige
Putting the 'wind' in windup
A true showman, Paige was a legendary right-hander who pitched in the Negro Leagues for most of his career and appeared in the American League from 1948-53, and incredibly, again at age 59 in 1965. His windup was also the stuff of legend -- he’d take his throwing arm and wind it up, then both arms would meet above his head before a high leg kick and, often, his patented “hesitation pitch.”
2. Hideo Nomo
The Tornado
Nomo took the baseball world by storm in 1995 as the first Japanese-born player in MLB in 30 years. His deceptive windup was named “the Tornado” for its twisting, torquing motion that led to a devastating fastball-forkball combination. He started the 1995 All-Star Game for the Dodgers and was named National League Rookie of the Year. He also threw two no-hitters during a 12-year MLB career.
3. Juan Marichal
A legendary leg kick
The leg kick was the most distinctive feature of Marichal’s windup, and it helped the Hall of Fame right-hander become a 10-time All-Star with a 2.89 ERA over a 16-year MLB career. The “Dominican Dandy” was one of the greatest pitchers of the 1960s with the Giants, and he would not only kick his leg up high, his entire frame would tilt at a steep angle before he delivered each pitch.
4. Orlando Hernández
El Duque
Upon defecting from Cuba in 1998, Orlando Hernández became an instant sensation with the Yankees, not only for his sheer dominance, but also because of his unusual windup. “El Duque’s” leg kick was high, but not in the same way as other unique windups -- his leg was bent as it went up so far that his chin could have touched his knee. He was the 1999 ALCS MVP and a four-time World Series champion.
5. Tim Lincecum
The Freak
While growing up in Washington state, Lincecum's father taught him what would become an iconic windup by placing dollar bills on the ground and having his son snatch them with his follow-through. Though small in stature (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), Lincecum’s tremendous torque-producing delivery netted him two Cy Young Awards and four All-Star selections, also contributing to three World Series titles with the Giants.
6. Dontrelle Willis
All aboard the D-Train
With a windup featuring a high leg-kick and a simultaneous turn of his back to the batter, Willis overpowered opponents using a devastating fastball-slider combination and helped the Marlins win the World Series as a rookie in 2003. The big lefty was also named NL Rookie of the Year and earned the first of two All-Star selections. He finished second in NL Cy Young voting two years later after going 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA.
7. Fernando Valenzuela
Look to the sky
Valenzuela burst onto the scene with a tremendous run of success in 1981, when “Fernandomania” became an international phenomenon. He threw seven complete games in his first eight starts and became the only pitcher to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors for the same season. The Mexican-born southpaw, whose windup included a look skyward, was a six-time All-Star and threw a no-hitter in 1990.
8. Luis Tiant
El Tiante
A Cuban right-hander with inimitable flair, Tiant had a windup that made it seem like he was on a swivel, and he stymied hitters over a brilliant 19-year MLB career. Starting with his hands over his head, he turned his body so his back faced the batter before twisting and throwing each pitch. He posted a full-season ERA below 2.00 twice and was a three-time All-Star with Cleveland and Boston.
9. Craig Kimbrel
The Pterodactyl
Sometimes it’s not the windup, but the setup, that is unique. So it is with Kimbrel, whose intimidating stare while bent over at the waist with his right arm held out -- bent at the elbow and dangling on the side -- became one of the most memorable postures in MLB history. Kimbrel is fifth on the all-time saves list, a nine-time All-Star and a 2018 World Series champion with the Red Sox.
10. Chad Bradford
The extreme submariner
Though he gained notoriety for his time with the “Moneyball” A’s in the early 2000s, Bradford’s extreme submarine-style throwing motion was unforgettable, especially if you were batting against him. The right-hander’s throwing hand would very nearly scrape the mound as he released the ball, and it led to a 3.26 ERA over a 12-year MLB career, as well as a 0.39 ERA in 24 postseason appearances.
Honorable mentions