forkball

American  

[fawrk-bawl] / ˈfɔrkˌbɔl /

Or fork ball

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitch thrown with the ball held deeply between the index and middle fingers, so that those fingers resemble a two-tined fork, causing the ball to dip sharply as it nears home plate.

   Toward the end of his career, he developed a wicked forkball.

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Etymology

Origin of forkball

First recorded in 1915–20; fork + ball ¹

Example Sentences

It was an off-speed pitch first derived from the forkball that hadn’t been popular since the age of the Walkman—and its reputation for shredding elbows had given it a stigma.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

He will have to learn to throw something other than a fastball, forkball and slider in the major leagues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2025

Though most trekkies were hoping to see Mr. Spock unleash his Vulcan forkball.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 1, 2012

He threw two fastballs and a forkball to Alfredo Griffin, who grounded out to third, and that was his whole World Series.

From New York Times • Oct. 20, 2011

Cap pushed back, chewing bubble gum, and talking about his forkball, he seemed quite personable.

From Slate • Aug. 1, 2011