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The reinvention of Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey

It was only in 2010, his first season with the Mets, that R.A. Dickey established himself as a solid, dependable, effective big league starting pitcher. First, he had to straighten out his life, and crooked-out his pitches.

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New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey rides the metro from Pentagon City to Navy Yard for a Mets game against Washington. Dickey values both the opportunity to explore a city the way the locals get around, and the element of adventure it brings. He has gotten lost more than once.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Dickey waits for his train at the L'Enfant Plaza metro station on his way to Nationals Park. Dickey is a connoisseur of urban subway systems, riding them in any road city where there’s a stop at the ballpark, and at even at home in New York.

Dickey waits for his train at the L'Enfant Plaza metro station on his way to Nationals Park. Dickey is a connoisseur of urban subway systems, riding them in any road city where there’s a stop at the ballpark, and at even at home in New York.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Dickey jogs the outfield at Nationals Park. Though he has been in professional baseball for 16 years, and first broke into the majors 11 years ago, it was only in 2010, his first season with the Mets, that Dickey established himself as a solid and dependable big league starting pitcher.

Dickey jogs the outfield at Nationals Park. Though he has been in professional baseball for 16 years, and first broke into the majors 11 years ago, it was only in 2010, his first season with the Mets, that Dickey established himself as a solid and dependable big league starting pitcher.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Dickey throws in the bullpen at Nationals Park. Around the same time he made the switch from conventional pitcher to knuckleballer, he began seeing a psychotherapist, Stephen James, in his native Nashville — and eventually revealed the scars from his past. “When I was presented with a different way to live, it’s almost like I’d been waiting on it my whole life. I was 31, 32 years old when I really got started, when my growth really began for me. I’ve grown more in the last six years than I did my previous 30.”

Dickey throws in the bullpen at Nationals Park. Around the same time he made the switch from conventional pitcher to knuckleballer, he began seeing a psychotherapist, Stephen James, in his native Nashville — and eventually revealed the scars from his past. “When I was presented with a different way to live, it’s almost like I’d been waiting on it my whole life. I was 31, 32 years old when I really got started, when my growth really began for me. I’ve grown more in the last six years than I did my previous 30.”

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Former Rangers knuckleball ace Charlie Hough worked with Dickey extensively, showing him a new grip and a repeatable delivery, and he later got lessons from noted knuckleballers Phil Niekro and Tim Wakefield. The small cadre of knuckleball specialists acted very much as a fraternity.

Former Rangers knuckleball ace Charlie Hough worked with Dickey extensively, showing him a new grip and a repeatable delivery, and he later got lessons from noted knuckleballers Phil Niekro and Tim Wakefield. The small cadre of knuckleball specialists acted very much as a fraternity.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Dickey’s knuckler is different from others in that it is harder — typically in the mid- to high-70s, as opposed to the mid- to upper-60s. As a result, he is able to keep it in the strike zone with consistency unmatched for a knuckleballer, while still fooling hitters with its flutters.

Dickey’s knuckler is different from others in that it is harder — typically in the mid- to high-70s, as opposed to the mid- to upper-60s. As a result, he is able to keep it in the strike zone with consistency unmatched for a knuckleballer, while still fooling hitters with its flutters.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Dickey walks along Half Street on his way to work at Nationals Park. In addition to being the only knuckleball pitcher in the majors, he is a medical marvel, possessing no ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

Dickey walks along Half Street on his way to work at Nationals Park. In addition to being the only knuckleball pitcher in the majors, he is a medical marvel, possessing no ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

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ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

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