Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey at Citi Field. (Craig Ruttle)

Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey at Citi Field. (Craig Ruttle) Credit: Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey at Citi Field. (Craig Ruttle)

Knuckleball!
3 stars
Documentary by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg

There are two ways "Knuckleball!" co-directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg could have approached their documentary about the practitioners of baseball's most mysterious pitch.

They could've offered a wonky look at the nuances of the knuckler and its glorious history, which includes such icons as Phil Niekro and Charlie Hough.

There's some of that here, but this isn't a movie for Baseball Prospectus readers.

Instead, in paralleling the 2011 seasons of the Mets' R.A. Dickey and the Red Sox's Tim Wakefield, and focusing on the ways the knuckleball revived their careers, the filmmakers offer a moving look at the human side of the pitch.

With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered.  Credit: Randee Daddona; Newsday / Howard Schnapp

NewsdayTV's ultimate holiday shopping show With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered. 

With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered.  Credit: Randee Daddona; Newsday / Howard Schnapp

NewsdayTV's ultimate holiday shopping show With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered. 

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