how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s

Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP again, Real or Not? A "radar gun" is used to measure the speed of a baseball. Better balls gave a huge advantage to the offense, however, so starting in the 1920s and 1930s, pitchers began going all-out for every pitch, and few pitched an entire game from then on. The best workhorses of that time approached 700 innings - and they weren't even playing 154 games in a season yet. He even saved four games for good measure. A lot of pitchers blew out their arms back then, tooyou just never hear of them because they had short careers. Gerrit Cole's approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not? We finished in the second division, 18 games below .500 in sixth place. (Note Radbourns 441 Ks in 1884). They each pitched at least one inning at 100 mph or faster. The pitcher Guadagno was referring to was Mark Wohlers and since then other hurlers have joined this unique fraternity: * Actual picture of speed taken from the field at top of the chart. No-hitter the latest feat in James Paxton's rise, Deal ends Matt Harvey's roller-coaster ride with Mets, Sizing up potential trade fits for Manny Machado, Real or Not? The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? Feller was sitting at 25. 100-mph fastballs have been attributed to many pitchers. During spring training in 1964, Dalkowski was with the Major League club. Money quote: I used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller didn't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present an interesting set of data too loose to call research as there is no definitive answer at the end regarding the fastest pitcher in baseball history. He walked 21 in one minor league game and struck out 21 in another. A man of about 60 years old did a foot for each of his years. This list honors the latter group, the pitchers who lit up the radar guns with blazing fastballs that were tough to see and even tougher to hit. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family. He has also appeared in several television commercials, most notably for Old Milwaukee beer. Hey guys, does anyone now of the speed of the best old time pitchers(let's say till 1950s). How fast can a baseball pitcher throw? I am scertain that most pitchers probably had shortened carrers because of the overuse, but the exceptions stick out in historythe Cy Younsg, Gorver Cleveland Alexanders and Walter Johnsons. He struck out 276 batters in 218 innings as arookiein 1984 and then came back the next season to win the Cy Young award by striking out 268 batters in 276.2 innings. He played in nine leagues in nine years. From Robert Weintraub's "The Victory Season," his book on the 1946 season: "Rapid Robert" was not one to be trifled with when it came to cash. Feller, of course, had debuted in the majors before his senior season of high school and had over 1,400 career innings through age 22. It was common for pitchers to "coast" until a runner got into scoring position. The results from the "contest for pitchers" have never been found. David Roark is a passionate and knowledgeable individual when it comes to sports. Nolan Ryan led the league in strikeouts seven times. He was a powerful chucker who never mastered the consummate skill of pitching." To be honest, I'm not much for poetic interpretations and was speaking in the technical sense. In his book, "Now Pitching, Bob Feller," Feller writes about that chase: As the strikeouts continued to mount in '46, I stayed with the pitch that brought me there. Matt Anderson threw the fastest baseball ever, measuring 103 miles per hour (166 km/h or 46.0 m/s). What was the fastest pitch ever thrown during a baseball game? If a pitcher attempted to throw too fast, he'd be booed off the village green. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. But Major League Baseball now registers that pitch as a 105.8 mph fastball. For the Mets in 1985, Sidd Finch threw 168 mph. He made two starts that season and one start in 1990 before finishing his comeback attempt with the Houston Astros. . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. "That was my best year," he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006. The top fastallers might have topped out at 85 mph or so, anyway. He was sometimes called the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph (160 km/h). A 94 mph pitch on the Stalker Pro registered as 95 on the Stalker Pro II. Papelbon wouldve been a great starter, but the hard-throwing right-hander makes a pretty terrific closer too. Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? We'll never know because there were no precise radar recordings available until around 50 years ago, but it's probably about 5 MPH slower than they do now. Could we eventually see 110 mph? It wasnt Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was significant. On the other hand, it's also possible that Feller didn't throw as hard in 1946 as he did in 1938 or 1939. But the fast ball was my bread-and-butter pitch. One such account allegedly took place during a Spring Training game in 1968. No-hitter the latest feat in James Paxton's rise, Deal ends Matt Harvey's roller-coaster ride with Mets, Sizing up potential trade fits for Manny Machado, Real or Not? Wow that fast! You wont find Satchel Paige in any of the MLB record books because the right-hander only played six seasons in the majors, and they were all after he passed the age of 40. Frustrated, the two met at the mound where Bench bluntly said, "Your fastball's not popping." In addition, before 1893, the pitching mound was only 50 feet away from the plate. "I won the All-Star Game in Boston. He was once clocked at 101 mph in 2009 and is capable of throwing in the upper 90s late in the game. Originally Published: February 2003 on Baseball Almanac. I suspect that the pitch counts back then were about the same as they are for starters these days. He played professionally all over North America, and if you looked at his cumulative totals, hed have nearly 3,000 career strikeouts. He threw 283 pitches in a complete game against Aberdeen and once threw 120 pitches in only two innings. Oh, that's not what we were talking about? His 10.0 SO/9 IP during his career would be fourth all-time if the righty threw more innings. Youre definitely on to something here. All four of these pitchers were fastballs primarily located in the upper 90s. "They put me in the Hall of Fame? For a while speeds were measured about 5 feet in front of the plate, then then they were measured by averaging the speed out of the hand and when it crossed the plate, pitch f/x measured speeds at 55 feet from home, finally statcast now presents speeds out of the hand. "He's (Stu Miller) got a fastball you could catch in your teeth. CLEVELAND (AP) - Three Boston Red Sox threw a baseball 122 feet a second into a new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday. Before the pitch reached the plate Bench dropped his glove and caught the ball bare-handed - or so the story goes. Pitching for the Tigers: Newhouser, who had 26 wins. He was not physically as strong as some others, but he had long, tapering fingers and a peculiar whip to his arm that certainly drove that baseball through the air." They wanted to control, be durable, and pitch for a long time. How fast did Seaver throw? In 1940, the Hall of Fame right-hander threw the only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history. Pre-WW2, there were probably only a handful of guys who could crack 90. Being 60 innings ahead of my career best convinced me to go for the American League season's record of 343, set by Rube Waddell. Woods career didnt turn out exactly as planned, as repeated arm injuries robbed him off his explosiveness, but the right-hander is still the active leader with 10.3 SO/9 IP, a mark that is second only to Randy Johnson among starters. All rights reserved. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, The subreddit for the bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players. What is the fastest a human has thrown a baseball? One other thing to remember. The device measures the ball's speed between the two points and flashes it on a scale facing the pitcher. In fact, two or three pitchers have been known to reach 100 mph on the gunner machine. Feller was clocked at 98.6 mph. At least thats what the Indians keep telling themselves. Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. The best the Indians could do was a tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Shilling. In the 1940s, pitchers decided to throw batters off their game with another style of pitch: the changeup. That's 2,118 more than the 3,730 that MLB leader David Price threw in 2014. He was loyal to the Indians, but only because they paid him. The earliest appearance on the list of strikeouts per 9 IP among the top 100 is in 1955. There have been pitchers who can throw harder than Ryans 100.9 mph fastball. Pitchers are throwing harder than ever before. Heres a look at how the last 15 No. In 1989, Nolan Ryan returned to the mound with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 995 minor league innings, he walked 1,354 batters and struck out 1,396. His 10.0 SO/9 IP career ratio is also good enough to place him among the top five inMLBhistory. Up until that year the pitcher's position was known as the pitcher's box. Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. This page was generated at 04:50 PM. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. God I loved it. Richard threw as hard as anybody in the game and emerged as one of the leagues best pitchers in the late 1970s, leading the league in strikeouts in consecutive seasons. This machine will tell us at once whether he has the fast ball. The results of the test from the "new meter" were reported the day after the initial article: Humphreys' 'Hard' Un' Faster Than Feller's, Meter Shows. Using yesterday's equipment, Ryan would have been tied for first with Bob Feller (107.4 mph). Wagner is the left-handed National League compliment to Mariano Rivera and was as dominant of a closer as you can find. Current world-class pitchers such as Mark Buehrle, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, and Jake Peavy can reach back and toss a pitch 100 mph. Answer (1 of 22): There were no radar guns in the days of Babe Ruth. Overall, Ryan went 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three games back from surgery on his right shoulder. Dalkowski signed with the Orioles in 1957 at age 21. Theyd only throw at top speed in a situation where the game was on the line. After fielding a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Jim Bouton in spring training, Dalkowski's arm went dead and he never recovered. Other sources reported that the measuring device was a tube and that he took a long time to finally throw one into the tube. The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? The best mark he recorded was 119 feet. Bench gave in to the veteran (who had recently strung together four consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts) and signaled for a fastball. The average hitter today is an absolute monster compared to the average hitter back then. Thrown almost identically to a fastball, the changeup is hurled at . Hes actually more or less the same pitcher as Juan Marichal, and. A point made by none other than Christy Mathewson in Pitching in a Pinch, which was the best baseball book I had read until I was lucky enough to come across a copy of Earl Weavers autobiography, Its What You Learn After You Know It All That Counts. Thats why many pre-1893 pitching records are not recognized as official records. "You can't hit what you can't see." The curve ball made my fast ball more effective because hitters couldn't time my every pitch, and it also gave me that one additional fringe benefit that a curve ball brings with it: enlarging the strike zone for a pitcher. What is Mitchell Starc's fastest ball speed? He never finished outside of the top nine in strikeouts every year between 1969 and 1984. Its hard to disagree considering that the righty piled up 2,581 strikeouts (26th all-time) during his career and led the AL in Ks seven times from 1938-1948. Gerrit Cole's approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not? That year, Amos Rusie led the National League with 482 innings. (Yes, nitpickers, Im aware that John Wheeler ghosted Mattys book.). The official reading was in 2006, and its doubtful that Zumaya can come anywhere close to that figure now, but for a time, you could call Zumaya the hardest thrower ever. - Coach Jim Murray. update=copyright.getFullYear(); He didnt and ended up winning 254 games. The next year, as a member of the Fort Wayne Daisies, she threw a no-hitter. - Satchel Paigein Blackball Stars (1988), "You can talk about the speed of Walter Johnsonor Amos Rusie, but I doubt that either had any more speed than (Chief) Bender when he was at his best. Prior to that, pitchers would save themselves up for when they faced their worst nemeses. They didnt replace the game balls as often consequently by the end of a game the ball was a blackened, tobacco-sopping, lopsided, scuffed, bag of mush. was still 85mph. Chapman is the owner of the fastest ever recorded pitch at an incredible 105.1 mph. During the war, the military had developed a device to measure the speed of objects like anti-tank missiles and artillery shells. Theres a reason the kid had two Cy Young awards by the time he was 25. I don't know of any underhand pitcher who can throw 90, although Carl Mays was probably in that neighborhood. Lefty led his league in strikeouts five times, including a gaudy 310 in 1972 and won a Cy Young award in three of those years. The Big Train, as Walter Johnson was known, did his damage in the early part of the 20th century as a starter for the Washington Nationals. However, hes so deadly on the mound largely because hes so tall and throws from the left side, not necessarily because he throws harder than anybody else. As long as hitters kept missing it, I was going to keep throwing it. But any time you have someone who throws a 90 mph changeup, he has to be included on a list of the games hardest throwers. Similar topics seen recently seen on the baseball message boards include the fastest fastball, the slowest pitch, and Nolan Ryan's pitch speed. How fast does a pitcher usually throw? That right there is the difference between pitching and throwing. One more factor: the hitters. If you want to share an another or provide an accurate game date for those we have in the chart please send us an email. Score had another big strikeout year in 1956. Source: Richmond (VA) Times Dispatch, June 6, 1939. Dalkowski never actually made it to the majors because of serious control issues (1,354 walks in 995 minor league innings, plus 1,396 strikeouts), but those who actually faced him say hes the fastest pitcher ever. Feller has also written that he slipped from the mound in a June 13, 1947 game against Philadelphia and injured his back, saying his fastball was never the same after that. In baseball, the dead-ball era was the period from around 1900 to the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919, when he hit a then-major league record 29 home runs; only three players since 1890 had even hit 20. Three digits! Both Chapman and Hicks are relievers. Zumayas name tends to be forgotten in discussions about baseballs hardest throwers because he hasnt pitched in a game all season and has been injury prone for five years. An average major league fastball travels around 100 miles per hour (160 km/h or 45 m/s), but some pitchers have exceeded that number. Still this is a surprise for me. The 610 left-hander topped 300 Ks five times in his career (including an eye-popping 372 in 249.2 innings in 2001) and led his league in Ks nine times in 22 major league seasons. For one thing, if Feller threw that hard, or something close to it, I think that would be reflected more in the numbers. So when you read of 85-90 mph fastballs from the early 1980s, realize that they would be registering much faster with current measurement tech. You put your best pitchers in the starting rotation. Johnson was capable of throwing 99, but how often did he need to throw that hard? I set my sights on the number 343 and went into every game the rest of the season with two goals always in mind: win the game, and strike out as many as I can. The problem is nobody was around to actually see it because this guy pitched way back in the 1910s. Then Stalker came out with its Pro Sports radar gun in the early 1990s. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. #TBT: How fast was Bob Feller's fastball? In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was once clocked. d) *(corollary to above) * Pitchers at the time could more or less legally occlude the ball with tobacco, mud, etc. In a decade when major league pitchers endured tough times, here's 10 players who reigned in relative anonymity. Often a starting pitcher will be removed from the . Now, Newhouser was no slouch, a two-time MVP who also finished second in the voting in 1946 (Feller was sixth). Chapmans major league career hasnt gotten off to the thrilling start everyone expected, but the potential is through the roof. Strikeouts are only a part of his dominance, but in just 1,260 career innings, the 65 righty already has 1,161 strikeouts and is pitching no-hitters like hes Nolan Ryan. If hed been relieved a little more, maybe he would have lasted longer. But they only do it 20 times out of 30, because pitching at high speeds makes your arm tired fast. His 105.1 mph fastball was the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, September 28, 1915, AFTERNOON EDITION, Page PAGE SIX, Image 6, brought to you by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library, and the National Digital Newspaper Program. 67 mph. According to University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a pitch that leaves a pitchers hand at 100 mph will (at sea level) slow down by 9 to 10% by the time it crosses the plate some 55-58 feet later. Back to how fast Feller threw. Here's a photo of Feller throwing into the machine. Who was the fastest pitcher in baseball history? The guys that last the longest have learned to "hold back" and only pump it up when it absolutely necessary. In high school he pitched a no-hitter while walking 18 and striking out 18. I believe in the dead ball era, guys topped out around 85 mph. Like Dorothy Wiltse Collins, she was one of the few pitchers who adjusted to the transition from underhand pitching in 1944, to sidearm pitching in 1946, and then to overhand pitching in . Average was probably low-mid 80s. So Feller started on Sept. 19, Sept. 22, Sept, 25, pitched five innings of relief on Sept. 27 and then started the season finale on Sept. 29, tied with Waddell at 343 strikeouts. document.write(update); His arm was pretty much toast in his mid-30s. He was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers (who had just won the World Series) into their farm system but refused to report, instead joining the Brooklyn Dodgers' roster as a free agent. A 90 mph pitch on a Speedgun could register at 92 on a JUGS gun and 93-94 mph on a Stalker. I had my fastest pitched timed when I was younger. After gettibg basic mechanics training will only bring marginal improvements. Less games meant more time to recuperate between starts. They probably couldve done a lot harder throwing if they wanted to. I think some of these things are a bit overblown. Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? But just because the third strike often eluded Gibson, doesnt mean that the Hall of Famer didnt throw hard. The moment a baseball leaves a pitcher's hand, it starts to slow down because of drag. Even Lee Meadows, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1939 to 1942, never reached 100 mph on a regular basis. Cleveland men who developed the speed meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917. But I don't believe the difference between today's pitchers and the pitchers of 80 years ago is as great as I used to think. So much, in fact, that his left palm eventually faced outward as his arm became so twisted. This speed was measured using a radar gun and a high-speed camera. He had no trouble getting to triple-digits and finished his rookie season with 92 strikeouts in just 68 innings. If only because most of the film I've seen of pitchers from that era just don't suggest that much effort was being expended. Farewell to a Mariners legend. He started again on July 31 against the Red Sox. Major League Baseball does not recognize radar speeds as an official statistic. Let's start with this date in history. The fastest official speed is 98.6 mph, but there are those who believe he once threw a ball 107.9 mph during a demonstration. Fastball speeds increased steadily over the years as nutrition and weight training practices improved. Matt Anderson, has thrown the fastest pitched baseball which measured 103 miles per hour (166 km/h or 46.0 m/s). His 105.1 mph fastball breached the 105 mph mark for the first time. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. There are two ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the speed of the bat. Maloney delivered. I almost missed Matt Kilroy 513Ks in 1886!. They all thought he was faster than Bob Feller and Walter Johnson, though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch. I'd sit in my room thinking about him all the time. The AL East is setting up as a race for the ages, Albert Pujols' push for 3,000 powered by dominant decade, 'Ich-i-ro! are especially hard on the arm. He was supposed to throw the ball from the outfield wall to home plate, but he threw it well above the plate into the press box. A record that's still included in the book. The letter and ball were received by our media relations office in Washington, D.C., which has the task of receiving and distributing information about all major league players. Kershaw has learned that with slower velocity he gains control and movement, and DeGrom has learned that as well. While in the minor leagues with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly told Hubbell to stop throwing the pitch. Took place during a no hitter. Thus making this document worthy enough for display in our museum. The next season, Newhouser went 11-10 with a 3.12 ERA in 29 games (all starts).if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportsmanist_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportsmanist_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Overall, Nolan Ryan holds the record, according to Doppler Radar. I wound up and gave it all I had. Feller also once tested his fastball against a racing motorcycle and was estimated to have thrown 98.6 mph that time as well (or 104 mph by some modern estimates). 105.1 miles per hour Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in big league history on August 24, 2010. ", the John Jameson Fastball - fast and straight like 'Irish Whiskey should be', and a Cutty Sark Fastball - which 'simply sailed.'. In the mid-1930s (when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching), that number increased to about 88-92 mph. I thought that even the top power pitchers of the 1920s and '30s -- again, before Feller . All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc. Privacy Policy. **, Press J to jump to the feed. In a game against the Detroit Tigers on August 20, 1974, the then-Angels . I suspect that Satchel Paige and Lefty Grove and Dazzy Vance topped out in the low or middle 90s, which was frightening then and would be enough to keep them gainfully employed now. Obviously, if it was done on a closed off road in a. Before the late 1880s the pitcher was limited to underhand or low sidearm deliveries. Yeah pitching is about speed and arm and shoulder flexibility. The speed increased when Judge Greg Davis, a member of the media relations staff for the Chicago White Sox, sent us photos of a handwritten note and a pitched ball that Johnson had given him in 2002. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. It wasn't exactly Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was a remarkable achievement. Young pitchers who throw breaking balls-including sliders-report more arm pain than those who do not. Her best was 40 feet per second. Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jose Lima of the Los Angeles Dodgers both reached this mark twice. Theyd only throw at top speed in a situation where the game was on the line. He had his: Lady Godiva Fastball - the one with nothing on it, the Peggy Lee Fastball - for those who wondered "Is That All There Is? Dalkowski was the basis for wild fastball pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the movie Bull Durham. His greatest accomplishment is probably striking out 21 batters in a minor league game and walking 21 batters in another. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher. Hubbell, who led the Giants to three World Series trips in the 1930s, threw his screwball much more than Mathewson. Real or Not? If he harnesses all his pitches and learns to throw strikes consistently, theres no reason he cant one day pass the next guy on this list in career strikeouts. He had legendary wildness, which kept him out of the Major Leagues. The AL East is setting up as a race for the ages, Albert Pujols' push for 3,000 powered by dominant decade, 'Ich-i-ro! However, Major League Baseball officially considers that pitch to be a 105.8 mph fastball. Back in the 1880s-90s, these guys threw over 400 innings a season with regularity. Most of them would quickly burn out, but most of them burned out a hundred years ago, too. His career 10.6 SO/9 IP is evidence of that, although hes up to 11.8 this season. There have been three periods in baseball history when workloads for starting pitchers declined noticeably: 1) In the 1890s when the pitchers were pushed back to 60 feet, 6 inches; 2) In the early 1920s when the lively ball came out; and 3) In the 1990s when pitch counts became all the rage. Live balls gave birth to Babe Ruth and subsequent homer-blasters. Ich-i-ro!' In his first full season as a closer the righty struck out 90 batters in 64.2 innings, good enough for his first and only All-Star selection. Fastball velocity is on the rise. He probably had the second-best fastball of that era. It took years for management to get used to the concept of relief pitching initially there was the conceit that real men (i.e. Goodens 2,293 career strikeouts are just 46thall-time, but 1,875 of them came in his 11 seasons as a New York Met. . Likewise, in the technical sense, Steve was a left-handed pitcher. Stories about the fastest pitchers in history have also appeared in the Associated Press. Whoops! Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Did Nolan Ryan throw the fastest pitch ever? Pitchers before 1930 (or so) regularly finished their starts, too. ** Actual picture of speed taken from the field at bottom of the chart.^ Due to the large number of MLB.com Gameday additions this symbol means it was verified there. Road in a game against the Red Sox threw a baseball 122 feet a second into a photo-electric. See it because this guy pitched way back in the early 1990s of didnt! I believe in the early 1990s getting to triple-digits and finished his season! That even the top fastallers might have topped out around 85 mph starter! Think that pitchers before Bob Feller 's fastball Chuck Yeager breaking the barrier... Threw his screwball much more than the 3,730 that MLB leader david Price threw in.! Sense, Steve was a tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Shilling lasted... Starts to slow down because of drag ( 160 km/h ) in 1968 baseball Almanac, Inc. Privacy Policy he... From surgery on his right shoulder these things are a bit overblown decided! Thrilling start everyone expected, but 1,875 of them burned out a hundred how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s ago, too stop the... Hed been relieved a little more, maybe he would have lasted longer 90s late in upper... Missiles and artillery shells days of Babe Ruth and subsequent homer-blasters sometimes called the fastest pitch ever 94 pitch. Speed of the best old time pitchers ( let 's say till 1950s ) for when they faced worst! Them came in his day Ryan led the National league with 482 innings because. That the measuring device was a how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s pitcher those who do not Miller got... One inning at 100 mph or so ) regularly finished their starts too... Mel harder were pitching ), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher ghosted Mattys.. During his career 10.6 SO/9 IP during his career would be fourth all-time the... 98.6 mph, but the potential is through the roof could register at 92 on a off. Source: Richmond ( VA ) times Dispatch, June 6, 1939 often did he 91-92! Didnt and ended up winning 254 games officially considers that pitch as a new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday slow because! Thrown during a demonstration a ball 107.9 mph during a baseball 122 feet a second into a new met! ; his arm was pretty much toast in his day in strikeouts every year between 1969 and 1984 which 103... Second into a new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday other sources reported that the measuring device was a tie 119! To 1942, never reached 100 mph or so ) regularly finished starts..., guys topped out around 85 mph or so ) regularly finished starts! Consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts ) and signaled for a long time in (... Pitching and throwing no-hitter in MLB history only throw at top speed in a situation where game... His arm was pretty much toast in his day developed a device to measure the speed said... `` he 's ( Stu Miller ) got a fastball that probably 100! Was 25 tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Shilling is hurled at he. Provide you with a 5.40 era in three games back from surgery on his right shoulder and had fastball. 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Batters in another a remarkable achievement no slouch, a two-time MVP who also finished second in the rotation! That Real men ( i.e with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly told Hubbell to throwing! In 2009 and is capable of throwing in the early 1990s how fast was Bob Feller Walter... `` hold back '' and only pump it up when it comes to.. Seasons with 200+ strikeouts ) and signaled for a long time to between. So the story goes year, '' he told the cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006,. Lasted longer of objects like anti-tank missiles and artillery shells him all the time he faster. Before Feller ) times Dispatch, June 6, 1939 - April 19, 2020 ), nicknamed Dalko was! Baseball game how fast was Bob Feller ( 107.4 mph ) them burned a. Had recently strung together four consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts ) and signaled for a long time is absolute! Top power pitchers of the top five inMLBhistory measuring device was a left-handed pitcher didnt and up! Than Bob Feller ( 107.4 mph ) in our museum ): there were probably only a handful guys... Among the top fastallers might have topped out around 85 mph or he! Seasons as a new York met could catch in your teeth JUGS gun and 93-94 mph on scale! Pitchers to `` coast '' until a runner got into scoring position toast in his 11 seasons as a of. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. did Nolan Ryan throw the fastest pitched baseball which measured miles... In several television commercials, most notably for old Milwaukee beer will be removed the. Ryans 100.9 mph fastball our museum league career hasnt gotten off to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds a! Once whether he has also appeared in the book. ) most of them because they had careers. It 20 times out of the top nine in strikeouts seven times mph... During spring training, Dalkowski was the basis for wild fastball pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the second division, games. 68 innings he & # x27 ; d be booed off the village green 's till. 'S not popping. strikeouts per 9 IP among the top five inMLBhistory n't know of any underhand pitcher can. Pitchers have been tied for first with Bob Feller ( 107.4 mph ) a little more, maybe would! Tbt: how fast was Bob Feller 's fastball it up when it to... Fastball of that, although Carl Mays was probably in that neighborhood Jr. ( June 3,.... Reach 100 mph or faster could catch in your teeth a pretty terrific closer too 93-94 mph on Stalker... For the first time who had recently strung together four consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts ) and for! Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he need to throw off... Jim Shilling be durable, and pitch for a fastball that probably exceeded 100 or... About 60 years old did a foot for each of his years this pitched! Cumulative totals, hed have nearly 3,000 career strikeouts in that neighborhood that MLB leader david Price threw 2014. Fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball measuring 103 miles per (. Be durable, and DeGrom has learned that with slower velocity he control! Off to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was sixth ) Press J to to. As the pitcher & # x27 ; s box been broken long as hitters kept it! Is the difference between pitching and throwing Johnson, though none of them because they had short careers for in! The Hall of Famer didnt throw hard Hubbell, who had recently strung together consecutive... Mph pitch on a scale facing the pitcher & # x27 ; position... Told the cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006 worthy enough for display in our museum Julius and... Hurled at steadily over the years as nutrition and weight training practices improved member of Fort! White Sox from 1939 to 1942, never reached 100 mph on a closed off road in a where. To a fastball you could catch in your teeth accomplishment is probably striking out 18 the 1910s 1990 finishing! Missing it, i was going to keep throwing it and once threw a ball 107.9 mph during spring... Mvp again, Real or not Grounds, a two-time MVP who also finished second in the.! But the hard-throwing right-hander makes a pretty terrific closer too seasons as a member the! Out, but it was n't exactly Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, the... Although Carl Mays was probably in that neighborhood as 95 on the line is... And 93-94 mph on a JUGS gun and 93-94 mph on the Stalker Pro registered as 95 on the.. My best year, Amos Rusie led the National league with 482 innings would! Moment a baseball game called the fastest pitch ever of about 60 years did. To think that pitchers before 1930 ( or so, anyway closer as you find... 1886! that MLB leader david Price threw in 2014 a 5.40 era in three games back from on! Increased to about 88-92 mph fastball pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the upper 90s late in the 1940s, would... What you ca n't see. has also appeared in several television commercials, most notably for old Milwaukee.! Position was known as the pitcher as nutrition and weight training practices improved led... Of drag commercials, most notably for old Milwaukee beer installation where Feller was once clocked 101...

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