Before Montel Vontavious Porter hit the scene, the "Most Valuable Player" in the then-WWF was "MVP," aka Abe "Knuckleball" Schwartz, a baseball player who dared to cross the picket line into the World Wrestling Federation during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike. One might argue that the man behind the face-painted stitching, Steve Lombardi, also brought baseball to the squared circle as "The Brooklyn Brawler," but that gimmick seemed to use the shirts more to depict his being from Brooklyn than any athletic prowess. Knuckleball, however, depicted baseball from head to toe: Striped baseball cap topped a full baseball uniform from the head on down, complete with an actual baseball and glove, and baseball-inspired face paint that looks like someone ran over Sting with their bicycle... twice. We almost wouldn't be surprised if he wore cleats into the ring, but something tells us those aren't legal.
Former Nintendo Power writer, current Nintendo Force writer. Wrote the book on Mega Man (The Robot Master Field Guide). Was once fired by Vince McMahon. Dabbles in video games, comic books, toys, and fast food curiosities. Once had a new species of exotic bird named after him. It died.
You can find more of his writings, musings, and other such things on his websites at Nyteworks.net.
