“He has a little catch in his hitting which is sort of a peculiar twist just as the club meets the ball, and this is detrimental as a rule, but in spite of the fact William J. seems to hit the pellet and probably with coaching can get over the little habit. Merle Jones has something of the same kind of hitch in his swing but it is not so noticeable.” “Observations Wise and Otherwise,” Adrian (MI) Telegram, April 19, 1910, p7
Previous earliest use (Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2009):
1939. “[Vince] DiMaggio had a pronounced hitch in his swing when he reported for spring training.” (Parke Carroll, The Sporting News, June 15; Peter Morris)
