This day in baseball: The pitching machine

The first automated pitching machine was invented by Charles E. Hinton, a mathematics professor at Princeton University.  On December 15, 1896, Hinton’s invention was made public through a demonstration at the university’s gymnasium.  The machine represented a rifle, shooting pitches towards the batter.

Arch near the Princeton campus, erected 1896 (Princeton University)
Arch near the Princeton campus, erected 1896 (Princeton University)


2 thoughts on “This day in baseball: The pitching machine

  1. I actually got drilled by a pitching machine at the batting cage at Doubleday Field; the machine was supposedly throwing curves, but this one never broke and nailed me square in the back. Must have missed the sign from the catcher.

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