Pitcher Pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, and as such is situated at the right end of the defensive spectrum. There are many different types of pitchers, such as the starting
Throw-in In 1866, players were forbidden from playing the ball before it had touched the ground. This requirement was removed when the Clydesdale throw-in law was adopted in 1877. In 1871 a law-change introduced by Wanderers FC forbade players from playing the ball until it had travelled at least six yards. This requirement was dropped when the Scottish throw-in law was adopted in 1883. In 1882, an indirect free-kick was awarded for any violation of the throw-in law. In 1931, on a proposal by the Irish Football Association, this was changed to an award of the throw-in the opposing team (except