June 1, 1943, Truett “Rip” Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates debuts his “eephus” or “blooper ball” pitch, which travels as high as 25 feet above the ground before dropping into the strike zone. Sewell will use the pitch on his way to a 20-win campaign.

Rip Sewell and the Birth of the Eephus Pitch: Baseball’s Greatest Blooper

In the rich tapestry of baseball history, few players are remembered more for a single pitch than Rip Sewell. The Alabama native and World War II-era workhorse wasn't just a four-time All-Star or a two-time 20-game winner—he was the inventor of one of the game’s most curious and unforgettable pitches: the eephus.

A Southern Start

Born in Decatur, Alabama, Truett "Rip" Sewell began his athletic journey at Vanderbilt University, playing freshman football under the legendary coach Dan McGugin during the 1930–31 school year. But academic demands sent Sewell down a different path, and soon he was playing pro baseball with the Nashville Vols. His contract was sold to the Detroit Tigers for $10,000, and he made his big league debut in 1932. That debut, however, was short-lived. After Jimmie Foxx crushed one of Sewell’s best pitches over the wall, he was demoted to the minors in Toronto.

The Fight That Sent Him Packing

Sewell got another shot with the Tigers in 1934—until a fistfight with teammate Hank Greenberg in spring training brought his comeback to a screeching halt. The altercation, allegedly sparked by personal insults—Sewell’s southern roots versus Greenberg’s Jewish heritage—ended with Sewell being traded. Accounts of the fight vary: Sewell claimed mutual antagonism; Greenberg remembered Sewell as an annoying instigator. Either way, manager Mickey Cochrane cut him loose, telling him plainly, “We’ve got thirty pitchers and only one first baseman. What do you think I’m going to do?”

The Invention of the Eephus

While Sewell’s early years were marked by turbulence, it was with the Pittsburgh Pirates that he made his mark. And nothing defined his legacy more than the eephus pitch—a slow, high-arcing lob that seemed to defy the laws of modern pitching. Sewell developed it by gripping the seams and flipping the ball off three fingers to generate backspin. The pitch could reach an arc of 25 feet and completely disrupt a batter’s timing.

Its first public appearance came in an exhibition game against the Tigers. Detroit slugger Dick Wakefield was so baffled by the pitch he froze mid-swing, started again, then missed badly. “I thought everybody was going to fall off the bench, they were laughing so hard,” Sewell later said.

The Ted Williams Moment

The most famous moment in eephus history came during the 1946 All-Star Game. Sewell, true to his playful nature, warned Red Sox legend Ted Williams he’d throw him the blooper. With the American League ahead 8–0, Sewell delivered it. Williams fouled off the first one, took another, then crushed the third pitch for a home run—the only homer ever hit off Sewell’s eephus. As Williams rounded the bases, Sewell followed, calling out, “The only reason you hit it was because I told you it was coming.” The crowd erupted in laughter and gave Sewell a standing ovation, a testament to his showmanship and charm.

An Old-School Competitor

While known for his humor on the field, Sewell held serious views off of it. He was a vocal critic of the emerging players’ union, the American Baseball Guild. In 1946, he led efforts within the Pirates clubhouse to oppose unionization, famously stating that players were asking for “the hamburger, then filet mignon, eventually the cow and the entire pasture.”

Despite his anti-union stance, Sewell’s career accomplishments were undeniable. He led the National League in wins and complete games in 1943, topped the league in winning percentage in 1948, and had four seasons of 15 or more wins—including back-to-back 20-win campaigns during the war years. From 1941 to 1944, he logged over 200 innings each season.

A Legacy That Lobs On

Rip Sewell's name might not appear on every all-time greats list, but his contribution to baseball culture is everlasting. The eephus pitch—both a curiosity and a challenge—remains a symbol of creativity and playfulness in a sport often defined by power and precision. And while only Ted Williams could ever claim to have homered off it, Sewell's greatest victory may have been showing that sometimes, the slowest pitch makes the biggest impact.

Today’s line up: Click to Listen

June 1, 1968 New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers

June 1, 1962 New York Mets vs San Francisco Giants

June 1, 1977 New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins

This Week in Baseball June 1 1982

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TRIVIA:

Who is the only batter with 175 hits in a season sixteen times?

Hint: #1 Who is the only player to compile multiple twenty-game hit streaks for different teams?

Hint: #2 He was the last batter to face Denny McLain.

June 1, 1921 At the Polo Grounds Dave Bancroft became the ninth player in Giants franchise history to hit for the cycle. He accomplished the rare event just a season after teammate George Burns (who hit for the cycle on September 17, 1920) and a season before teammate Ross Youngs (April 29, 1922). In the bottom of the fifth, Bancroft sprinted around the bases, sliding across home plate for an inside-the-park home run. This was his first round-tripper of the season. He had run so hard that when he entered the dugout, he actually fainted on the bench. He will however stay in the game and complete the cycle singling in his next at bat.

June 1, 1941, At the Polo Grounds, Mel Ott hit his 400th career home run and collected his 1,500th career RBI in the Giants' 3-2 victory over Cincinnati. His 2 run 3rd inning homerun came off Monte Pearson.  'Master Melvin' will finish his 22-year career, all with the Giants, with 511 home runs, the third most in major league history at the time of his retirement. October 3, 1936 World Series New York Giants at New Yankees Yankees

June 1, 1955 In a tryout with the Pirates, a Sandy Koufax fastball broke the thumb of his catcher, and Pirate G.M. Branch Rickey (forced out of Brooklyn by Walter O'Malley four years earlier) said Koufax had the greatest arm he had ever seen. By the time the Pirates made their offer, however, Sandy had already signed with Brooklyn. "There are two times in my life the hair on my arms stood up," said a Dodger scout. "The first time (when) I saw the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the second time (when) I saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball."

June 1, 1962 -- In the nightcap of a twin bill at Connie Mack Stadium, Don Drysdale beats the Phillies 8-5 for the 13th consecutive time, continuing a streak which started in 1958. Drysdale helps his own cause with 3 RBI's. The Dodger right-hander, however, will drop his next seven decisions against Philadelphia after today's victory.

June 1, 1965, Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Bob Veale sets a franchise record by striking out 16 Philadelphia Phillies. The hard-throwing Veale wins the game, 4-0, making it 12 consecutive victories for the Bucs. Dick Allen and Dick Stuart both are fanned 3 times.  Bill Mazeroski goes 2-3 and Willie Stargell goes 1-4 with an RBI.

June 1, 1968, Joe Hoerner of the St. Louis Cardinals ties the National League record for most consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher. The side-arming left-hander fans the final six batters he faces and earns the win in a extra innings 6-5 victory over the New York Mets at Shea. Hoerner who pitched 4 innings in relief, gave u a run in the 8th and was untouched after that. Putting down, Al Weis, Ron Swoboda, Don Bosch in the 9th and Greg Goossen, Jerry Buchek, and Jerry Grote in the 10th.

June 1, 1975, at Anaheim Stadium California Angels fireballer Nolan Ryan notches the fourth no-hitter of his major league career in a 1-0 victory that was his 100th career win, Ryan strikes out nine Baltimore Orioles in equaling Sandy Koufax’ record for most career no-hitters. Ryan will eventually break Koufax’ record, and will finish with an unprecedented seven no-hitters. News report on Ryan

June 1, 1976, the Minnesota Twins trade ace pitcher Bert Blyleven and ailing shortstop Danny Thompson to the Texas Rangers for infielders Roy Smalley and Mike Cubbage, pitcher Bill Singer, and $250,000 in cash. Thompson, who is seriously ill with leukemia, will lose his battle with the disease on December 10.

June 1 1992 -- At the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, , Devon White of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes just the sixth player in major league history to hit both a leadoff home run and an extra-inning homer in the same game. He also became the 56th switch-hitter in the majors to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. Toronto defeats the Minnesota Twins, 5 - 3. White's 10th inning inside the park homerun bounced over the head of Future Hall of Famer Kirby Pucket which allowed White to easily scamper around the bases. It came with 1 out in the 10th off Carl Willis. 1992 Blue Jay Highlights

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