--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like some cult religion that barely…" description: "\"Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/ron-luciano-35577_baseball_like-some-cult-religion-that-barely-surv_2966523.jpg" --- # Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has… ![“Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in the big leagues . . . Not only can't pitchers control it, hitters can't hit it, catchers can't catch it, coaches can't coach it and most pitchers…” quote by Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/ron-luciano-35577_baseball_like-some-cult-religion-that-barely-surv_2966523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/ron-luciano-35577_baseball_like-some-cult-religion-that-barely-surv_2966523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/ron-luciano-35577_baseball_like-some-cult-religion-that-barely-surv_2966523.jpg) > “Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in the big leagues . . . Not only can't pitchers control it, hitters can't hit it, catchers can't catch it, coaches can't coach it and most pitchers can't learn it. The perfect pitch.” [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The knuckleball is an elusive, chaotic pitch that defies control by pitchers, hitters, and coaches alike. **In simple terms:** The knuckleball is a wildly unpredictable baseball pitch. Key Takeaway Accept that some things resist conventional mastery. Themes sports uncertainty skill creativity Mood playful intrigued Type sports commentary humorous When to use this quote - baseball training - coaching strategies - player development - game analysis Key Concepts knuckleball dynamics control limits athletic innovation Questions to Reflect On - Can unpredictability be an advantage? - How do teams adapt to chaotic elements? A Different Perspective Even experts may never fully master the knuckleball. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Catchers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catchers/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Devotee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotee/) [Devotees Throwing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotees-throwing-4545275/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Knuckleball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knuckleball-520485/) [Knuckleball Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knuckleball-big-4545274/) [Knuckleballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knuckleballs/) [League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-pitch-609899/) [Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitcher/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Throwing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwing/) [Throwing Knuckleball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwing-knuckleball-2471931/) ## Related quotes > [Throwing a knuckleball for a strike is like throwing a butterfly with hiccups across the street into your neighbor's mailbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/throwing-a-knuckleball-for-a-strike-is-like-throwing-a-butterfly-with/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [He (Hoyt Wilhelm) had the best knuckleball you'd ever want to see. He knew where it was going when he threw it, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-robinson/he-hoyt-wilhelm-had-the-best-knuckleball-you-d-ever-want-to-see-he/) [Brooks Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-robinson/) > [I couldn't throw a knuckleball if my life depended on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gio-gonzalez/i-couldn-t-throw-a-knuckleball-if-my-life-depended-on-it/) [Gio Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gio-gonzalez/) > [Look for the seams (on a knuckleball) and then hit in-between them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmon-killebrew/look-for-the-seams-on-a-knuckleball-and-then-hit-in-between-them/) [Harmon Killebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmon-killebrew/) > [There are two theories on hitting the knuckleball. Unfortunately, neither of them work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-lau/there-are-two-theories-on-hitting-the-knuckleball-unfortunately/) [Charley Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-lau/) > [You don't catch the knuckleball, you defend against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/you-don-t-catch-the-knuckleball-you-defend-against-it/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [It's a pitch you can extend your career with because it's less taxing on your body. It's like dog years, but in reverse. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/it-s-a-pitch-you-can-extend-your-career-with-because-it-s-less-taxing/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [You know, catching the knuckleball, it's like trying to catch a fly with a chopstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-varitek/you-know-catching-the-knuckleball-it-s-like-trying-to-catch-a-fly/) [Jason Varitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-varitek/) > [It's (Phil Niekro's knuckleball) like watching Mario Andretti park a car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-kiner/it-s-phil-niekro-s-knuckleball-like-watching-mario-andretti-park-a-car/) [Ralph Kiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-kiner/) > [I don't really feel much more confident than I did the last couple years. I've always felt like I have a pretty good knuckleball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-don-t-really-feel-much-more-confident-than-i-did-the-last-couple/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [The # knuckleball can be a metaphor of what it's like to let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/the-knuckleball-can-be-a-metaphor-of-what-it-s-like-to-let-go/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [ \[A knuckleball is\] a curve ball that doesn't give a damn. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cannon/a-knuckleball-is-a-curve-ball-that-doesn-t-give-a-damn/) [Jimmy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cannon/) > [When you have a live performance, you're going to be pitchy here and there, unless you have perfect pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/when-you-have-a-live-performance-you-re-going-to-be-pitchy-here-and/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [All my children inherited perfect pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chevy-chase/all-my-children-inherited-perfect-pitch/) [Chevy Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chevy-chase/) > [I wish I had perfect pitch, but I don't, and thanks to the miracle of YouTube, a bad night lives forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/i-wish-i-had-perfect-pitch-but-i-don-t-and-thanks-to-the-miracle-of/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) ## More by Ron Luciano > [No one ever grew up intending to be an umpire, except perhaps my friend Bill Haller. His brother Tom wanted to be a catcher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/no-one-ever-grew-up-intending-to-be-an-umpire-except-perhaps-my/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [The practical joke is the psychiatry of baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/the-practical-joke-is-the-psychiatry-of-baseball/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [Being an umpire is like being a king. It prepares you for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/being-an-umpire-is-like-being-a-king-it-prepares-you-for-nothing/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [Throwing people out of a game is like learning to ride a bicycle--once you get the hang of it, it can be a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/throwing-people-out-of-a-game-is-like-learning-to-ride-a-bicycle-once/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [If it's true you learn from your mistakes, Jim Frey will be the best manager ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/if-it-s-true-you-learn-from-your-mistakes-jim-frey-will-be-the-best/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [Any umpire who claims he has never missed a play is . . . well, an umpire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/any-umpire-who-claims-he-has-never-missed-a-play-is-well-an-umpire/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [Lou Piniella only argues on days ending with the letter 'y'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/lou-piniella-only-argues-on-days-ending-with-the-letter-y/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [Umpire's heaven is a place where he works third base every game. Home is where the heartache is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/umpire-s-heaven-is-a-place-where-he-works-third-base-every-game-home/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [I never called a balk in my life. I didn't understand the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/i-never-called-a-balk-in-my-life-i-didn-t-understand-the-rule/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [One reason I never called balks is that I never understood the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/one-reason-i-never-called-balks-is-that-i-never-understood-the-rule/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [Umpiring is best described as the profession of standing between two seven-year olds with one ice cream cone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/umpiring-is-best-described-as-the-profession-of-standing-between-two/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [“Never being a person satisfied to create a small disaster when I could just as easily create a catastrophe, I realized I was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/never-being-a-person-satisfied-to-create-a-small-disaster-when-i/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) [Explore all 13 Ron Luciano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in the big leagues . . . Not only can't pitchers control it, hitters can't hit it, catchers can't catch it, coaches can't coach it and most pitchers can't learn it. 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