Question

What effect might the stitches on a baseball have on a path of a baseball

Answer 1

Those stitches are what "chews" into the wind when you like to throw a breaking ball. Additionally, a knuckleball that barely spins eats at the wind using the stitches on the ball and this enables it to drop, sail or rise.

In short, the stitches makes the ball air resistant or cut into air making it faster.

Answer 2

Answer with Explanation

The most ‘striking’ feature of the baseball is the stitches that interact with the air when the ball moves. Along with a slight effect on the air drag, there is a strong effect on the Magnus force. According to the stitch pattern, the Magnus force on a moving ball depends accordingly because the air interacts strongly with the raised stitches on the ball. Apart from this, the stitches provide a better grip for the pitcher and help in forcing the ball to move in different ways.