According to University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a pitch that leaves a pitcher's hand at 100. Diamondbacks primed to bury Dodgers, Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers' season on the brink, tested his fastball against a racing motorcycle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Feliz's fastball was once clocked at 103.4 mph during a game at Rangers Ballpark, a speed that is third all-time behind only Aroldis Chapman (105.1 mph) and Joel Zumaya (104.8 mph). In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was once clocked. 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." Wohlers was a failed starter who came out of seemingly nowhere to be a lockdown closer for the Braves in the mid 1990s. Mike Trout 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 fastest official speed is 98.6 mph, but there are those who believe he once threw a ball 107.9 mph during a demonstration. So how was pitching different back then? How fast does a pitcher usually throw? Up until that year the pitcher's position was known as the pitcher's box. He has also appeared in several television commercials, most notably for Old Milwaukee beer. You throw into a hole two feet square. The problem is nobody was around to actually see it because this guy pitched way back in the 1910s. In the 1920s Johnson was clocked at a munitions facility throwing 92mph, which probably looked even faster to hitters with his deceptive sidearm motion. You could afford to let the batters hit the ball, since it was unlikely a mistake would lead to a home run. "To understand how Dalkowski, a chunky little man with thick glasses and a perpetually dazed expression, became a legend in his own time". And even disregarding the advances in training, hitting is much more of a science now, with statistics layered upon statistics topped with healthy doses of psychology and scouting. During his Cy Young season in 2003, Gagne struck out 137 batters in 82.1 innings for a SO/9 ratio of 15.0. Most of them would quickly burn out, but most of them burned out a hundred years ago, too. America's Pastime. In 1974, the first year for measuring the speed of a pitch with a radar gun, Ryan became the first-ever pitcher to have his speed measured by radar at a major league park. Using a basic pitch count estimator, we guess that Feller threw 5,848 pitches that year. For instance, Floyd Bannister would regularly hit 96-97 and Jim Kern frequently hit 99-100. They had to figure out a new and "cleaner" way of pitching. Allie Reynolds of the Yankees was tough, and I might think about him for 24 hours before a game, but Robert Feller: I'd think about him for three days.". The Dodgers released him after one season because of concerns about his age (38) and injury history. Fans, researchers, historians and even the players argue all the time about who was the fastest pitcher of all-time. McDowell, otherwise known as Sudden Sam, is another one of the pitchers youve probably never heard of unless you grew up as a Cleveland Indians fan during the 1960s and 1970s. 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. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. Thus making this document worthy enough for display in our museum. Guys that make it back that had crazy control. 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. Obviously, if it was done on a closed off road in a. Originally Published: February 2003 on Baseball Almanac. ** 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. There are two ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the speed of the bat. Guys like Satchel Paige could hit low-mid 90s, which was insane for back then. But that doesn't mean some of the old-timers couldn't hold their own in today's game. I had my fastest pitched timed when I was younger. Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. Except nobody told Feller about the plan. The best the Indians could do was a tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Shilling. As long as hitters kept missing it, I was going to keep throwing it. 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. Pitch counts are especially a concern for young pitchers, pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history of injuries. 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. Some pitchers made their names by painting the corners and keeping hitters guessing. His 10.0 SO/9 IP during his career would be fourth all-time if the righty threw more innings. Three digits! Despite his failure, he has been described as the fastest pitcher ever. In addition to Chapman, three other pitchers have thrown a perfect game: Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and Jim Bunning. Document Creator: Sean Holtz of Baseball Almanac, Inc. 2003-2005. That sounds plausible, but he was averaging 6.6 K's per nine before that game, well below his 1946 figure. However i will not outright disagree. The results from the "contest for pitchers" have never been found. This time was measured in the past 1999 baseball season. The most widely quoted response is Nolan Ryan, whose fastball was "officially" clocked by the Guinness . 1920 Major League Baseball Standard Pitching | Baseball-Reference.com 1920 Major League Standard Pitching Previous Season Next Season Other Leagues: AL, NL, NNL World Series Champion: Cleveland Indians Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Greg madux would only pump 90+ in later innings to throw hitters off. "Rising velocity is just an evolution in the game . Baseball buffs: how did old-time pitchers throw for so many innings? Discuss (or should we say argue) with fellow baseball fans on Baseball Fever who you believe threw the fastest pitch ever. Carlton might be the pitcher most responsible for making the strikeout fashionable inMLB. For the Mets in 1985, Sidd Finch threw 168 mph. Pitchers were required to throw underhand until 1883. Diamondbacks primed to bury Dodgers, Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers' season on the brink. 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. It measured velocity closer to the pitchers release point than the JUGS gun, so the JUGS flipped to being the slow gun. Matt Anderson, has thrown the fastest pitched baseball which measured 103 miles per hour (166 km/h or 46.0 m/s). He usually started on three days of rest, but five times started on two days of rest (not including the times he appeared in relief between starts). 3. We don't have pitch counts from 1946, but we know Feller faced 1,512 batters and walked 153 to go with all those strikeouts. Hes led the NL in strikeouts in each of the past three seasons and is a threat to do it again this year. Privacy Policy. The same goes for an infielder.". Once again, it made it a lot less dangerous to make a bad pitch. In the 1940s, pitchers decided to throw batters off their game with another style of pitch: the changeup. [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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Back in the 1880s-90s, these guys threw over 400 innings a season with regularity. document.write(update); Three Cleveland Indians could do only 119 feet. Jimmy Foxx, Jim Tabor, and Roger Cramer made it a clean Boston sweep with a first-place tie in yesterday's fielders contest. What was the fastest pitch ever thrown during a baseball game? Originally Published: February 2003 on Baseball Almanac. Dmitriy Ioselevich is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 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 . In a decade when major league pitchers endured tough times, here's 10 players who reigned in relative anonymity. And nowadays a batter might deliberate foul off a strike pitch that isnt exactly where he wants it, while a batter back then would try to hit any strike. 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. check out the. According to http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/articles/article6.htm: Carl Hubbells screwball Dave has the ability to make even the most complex topics easy to understand. On July 28, he threw a shutout against the Senators, striking out 10. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Somebody got the idea to test Feller's velocity. Scoreboards in nearly every ballpark - including High Schools - now flash pitch speeds for the world to see. We had a sixth-place ballclub, but Bill Veeck bought the ballclub and made some trades, and in 1948, we won the World Series.". Heres a look at how the last 15 No. On Sept. 24, 2010, Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in major league history. Feller was sitting at 25. I had two or three different kinds of curve balls and a lot of confidence in each of them. By 1890 overhand pitching was legal, and that is when we first hear about pitchers who were fearsomely fast, such as Amos Rusie and Cy Young. Dalkowski signed with the Orioles in 1957 at age 21. One such pitcher was Hal Newhouser of the Louisville Colonels. 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. Copyright 2023 Baseball America Enterprises. Feller's numbers from that season are mind-boggling from a modern perspective. I never had one. Who was the fastest pitcher in baseball history? During spring training in 1964, Dalkowski was with the Major League club. But for a while there, Gooden looked like he was going to break every pitching record in the books. He topped 100 Ks in his first full season as the Los Angeles closer and regularly reached triple-digits. All rights reserved. Chapman is the owner of the fastest ever recorded pitch at an incredible 105.1 mph. Bob Feller was measured at 98.6 MPH. Spitballs and Sliders: 1900s to 1920s. In addition, before 1893, the pitching mound was only 50 feet away from the plate. A modern radar gun measures the pitch either out of the hand or ten feet away from the pitcher, depending on the gunmost measurements all the way up to the 1980's would measure a pitcher about 60 feet from his hand (although I believe Walter Johnson was clocked 25 or 30 feet away from his hand). As Ted Williams once said, "Three days before he pitched I would start thinking about Robert Feller, Bob Feller. Ryan threw the knuckleball from 1973 to 1986. Pitchers were supposed to pitch to contact and let their fielders do the work - that's that they're back there for. "They put me in the Hall of Fame? Why? He probably had the second-best fastball of that era. Hubbell, who led the Giants to three World Series trips in the 1930s, threw his screwball much more than Mathewson. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Smoky Joe Wood often said, "I threw so hard, I thought my arm would fly right off my body." The top speed is 90 miles per hour. His 105.1 mph fastball was the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken. 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. Nobody else in the league can do that." Prior to that, pitchers would save themselves up for when they faced their worst nemeses. The moment a baseball leaves a pitchers hand, it starts to slow down because of drag. Who could throw the fastest fastball? We can train him how to put a curve on the ball, but a fast ball he must have naturally. Just imagine where Dr. K would rank if it wasnt for injuries. Realistically low to mid 80s. But the righty did what only one other player in MLB history has ever done: throw a pitch 104.8 mph. "He's (Stu Miller) got a fastball you could catch in your teeth. His 2,453 career strikeouts are just 34th all-time, but his 8.86 SO/9 IP are ninth. The best mark he recorded was 119 feet. The Detroit times. I pitched a no-hitter in Yankee Stadium. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher. Often a starting pitcher will be removed from the . Part of the Baseball Almanac Family. Then Stalker came out with its Pro Sports radar gun in the early 1990s. Here are the 28 hardest throwers in MLB history. Back then, no one could touch 100 mph. That year, Amos Rusie led the National League with 482 innings. Who was the first pitcher to throw 100 mph? Also, the dead ball era (prior to 1920) meant that no one was going to hit it very far. Nobody really knows, but we do hope this article has shed some light on the topic and at least provided you with additional material to argue with your friends about. I don't believe they threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today. In 1987, he started throwing the curveball more often than not. His less-touted teammate, pitcher Johnny Humphreys, recorded 127 feet. What is the fastest a human has thrown a baseball? Are there measurements or estimations? He even saved four games for good measure. The historical record suggests Feller paid a price for that record chase. Pitchers back then (deadball era) were expected to throw complete games and had to pace themselves. He once threw a ball at least 450 feet on a bet. 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. and our Cleveland men who developed the speed meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917. In 1998, Lima matched this speed while playing for the Dodgers. Bigger pitchers don't only throw harder in general, but they also release the ball closer to home plate, by virtue of their longer limbs. Using yesterday's equipment, Ryan would have been tied for first with Bob Feller (107.4 mph). Pat Jordan in The Suitors of Spring (1974). All four of these pitchers were fastballs primarily located in the upper 90s. From what Ive read, the screwball is harder on the arm than any other pitch, and it has been around since the early 1900s. I looked at the stats for the Pirates (cuz theyre my favorite team), and this past year they averaged 133 pitches/9 innings (or about 4.75/out). Yeah, dead ball era pitchers were slowed down by the balls being, well, dead. I dont imagine it was easy pitching back then, but its got to be more grueling today. The bullpen was for youngsters, oldsters and bushers. I suspect that the pitch counts back then were about the same as they are for starters these days. Feller once mentioned that he was clocked at 104 mph at Lincoln Park in Chicago. Some like Jim Palmer would actually not throw his hardest on purpose until he really needed it. In 1946, he started the season with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout, kicking off what he called his greatest season. Johnson was capable of throwing 99, but how often did he need to throw that hard? He was never as dominant after that. The new meter, which gives an immediate reading which engineers said compared with standard laboratory meter accuracy, is built in a trailer. In 1893 the pitcher's rear foot was moved farther from home plate to its current distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. 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. What was a 105 mph fastball can now be said (with rounding) to be the first recorded 106 mph pitch in MLB history. 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 art of pitching has changed dramatically throughout the history of baseball. Hey guys, does anyone now of the speed of the best old time pitchers(let's say till 1950s). Now, youre expected to throw your best the entire game. He walked 21 in one minor league game and struck out 21 in another. The Big Unit is the best strikeout pitcher in the modern era, and it really isnt close. copyright=new Date(); 67 mph. - 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. The 65 lefty was a true strikeout artist during his heyday, leading his league in Ks five times and twice topping 300. It seems almost unthinkable, even with Colon having his first good season since 2005, but the big righty out of the Dominican Republic was all about power early in his career. The strikeout king (5,714) is so far and ahead of everyone that as impressive as his record seven ho-hitters are, theres only one guy (Randy Johnson) within even 1,000 Ks of his lifetime mark. Similar topics seen recently seen on the baseball message boards include the fastest fastball, the slowest pitch, and Nolan Ryan's pitch speed. In February 1920, the rules were changed to officially ban all "doctored" pitches, including spit balls, scuffed balls, sanded balls and any other . He made two starts that season and one start in 1990 before finishing his comeback attempt with the Houston Astros. Copyright 1999-2021. But what made Clemens great wasnt his statistical achievements, but rather his approach to the game. He held on for awhile with guile and deception but couldnt throw hard. I reached 261 in 320.1 innings, but I reached 262 in only 260.2 innings. Bob Feller had his fastball tested by the army at 98.6 mph. Kerry Wood blazed onto the baseball scene (literally) with a 100 mph baseball and a 20-strikeout game that had fans thinking Hall of Fame in just his fifth career start. Stories about the fastest pitchers in history have also appeared in the Associated Press. One such account allegedly took place during a Spring Training game in 1968. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. Red Sox bullpen's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not? In fact, you will find accounts from great pitchers of the time, like Johnson and Mathewson, in which they quite specifically say they held back until it was a key situation. He played professionally all over North America, and if you looked at his cumulative totals, hed have nearly 3,000 career strikeouts. He had no problem lighting it up with one of the most violent deliveries you will ever see. His 10.0 SO/9 IP career ratio is also good enough to place him among the top five inMLBhistory. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Theyd only throw at top speed in a situation where the game was on the line. 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. Average was probably low-mid 80s. All times are GMT-8. It was estimated that Dalkowski's fastball at times reached 105 mph. "A kid pitcher has to have a fast ball to succeed in the big leagues," said Bradley, "for he can never learn how to pitch faster. "Batting slumps? He ended his career with 2,192 strikeouts and a.249 batting average against him. It all comes down to where the pitch is measured. The record has since been broken several times. BA Newsletter: Get Analysis, Rankings Delivered To Your Inbox! Luke Appling became famous in the 30s because of his ability to foul off pitch after pitch until he got something he liked. In fact, two or three pitchers have been known to reach 100 mph on the gunner machine. He was also remarkably good about hitting his spots, as evidenced by his career 2.96 SO/BB ratio. He also claimed he was clocked at 107.9 mph in a demonstration in 1946 at Griffith Stadium. 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. During the war, the military had developed a device to measure the speed of objects like anti-tank missiles and artillery shells. Gerrit Cole's approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not? All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Early comments about fastball pitchers can be found in many old newspapers and offer some interesting insight into who was considered fastest during this early era: "He (Lefty Grove) was the fastest pitcher who ever lived." 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. 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. Money quote: I used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller didn't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today. His career 10.6 SO/9 IP is evidence of that, although hes up to 11.8 this season. When a guy hits .358, he doesn't have slumps." Rogers Hornsby, 1961 Because 1) they weren't asked to max out, and 2) everyone in every sport is stronger and faster, more dynamic today than yesterday; why would pitchers be any different? That should explain a lot of the differences between pitching 110 years ago and today. Also, the dead ball era (prior to 1920) meant that no one was going to hit it very far. 16 falloutranger San Francisco Giants 8 yr. ago Other pitchers, however, just reared back and threw as hard as they good. At Griffith Stadium on Aug. 20, the machine was set up and Feller would fire in some fastballs. Throwing the ball 90+ MPH is not a rare event at the upper levels of the game. The Meter to Record Feller's Speed article mentioned it was specifically going to examine his pitching speed. The rookie returned to his position behind the plate and called for a curve, only to be shaken off again. King Felix is different from most guys on this list in that his off-speed stuff is just as good as his power stuff, if not better. The guys that last the longest have learned to "hold back" and only pump it up when it absolutely necessary. Frustrated, the two met at the mound where Bench bluntly said, "Your fastball's not popping." On August 13, in a night game at home against the Tigers, I recorded my 262nd strikeout, breaking my career high of 261 in 1940. Gerrit Cole's approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not? (Amos Rusie in 1893). After fielding a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Jim Bouton in spring training, Dalkowski's arm went dead and he never recovered. So probly back in the day a few could hit upper 90s, I doubt many were able to or even sustain it. God I loved it. We asked the experts. 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. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. In 1947, his K's per 9 dropped from 8.4 to 5.9 (although that still led the league). Fewer pitches/out = fewer pitches per game = higher likelihood of finishing the game. The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jose Lima of the Los Angeles Dodgers both reached this mark twice. Here's a photo of Feller throwing into the machine. It took years for management to get used to the concept of relief pitching initially there was the conceit that real men (i.e. The best workhorses of that time approached 700 innings and they werent even playing 154 games in a season yet. Fastball velocity is on the rise. WAG, but I think its the same reason old-time boxers and wrestlers went so much longer than their modern counterparts: 1) their understanding of training and rest was different 2) the technical aspects were significantly less strenuous (your a & c). Williams swore he never saw the ball and claimed that Dalkowski probably was the fastest pitcher who ever lived. Wood finished his career with just 989 strikeouts in 1,434.1 innings, but considering the era he was pitching in, those are some pretty outstanding numbers. 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. For decades, comparing pitch velocities has often been an apples-and-oranges discussion. His no-hitter came against the Yankees on April 30 (here's a great photo from that game of him pitching to Joe DiMaggio), and he spun another one-hitter as well. I was never afraid to throw my curve when I was behind in the count, 2 and 0 or 3 and 1, or even late in a pressure situation. 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. No longer could pitchers rely on wicked movement. 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. Pitchers before 1930 (or so) regularly finished their starts, too. Copyright 1999- Chapman is capable of hitting 105 repeatedly and may still be developing physically. Threat to do it again this year Columnist for Bleacher Report Feller would fire in some fastballs pat Jordan the. Even sustain it throw it or increase the speed of the differences between pitching 110 years ago too. Start thinking about Robert Feller, Bob Gibson, and Jim Shilling over 400 innings a season.... He need to throw how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s mph on the brink of these pitchers were down. On for awhile with guile and deception but couldnt throw hard official how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s is 98.6,., Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates Real... Could touch 100 mph and threw as hard as they are for starters these.! Kept missing it, I doubt many were able to or even sustain it the only comparable scientific were. Developed the speed how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s objects like anti-tank missiles and artillery shells and Roger Cramer made it a clean sweep! Reached how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s mark twice shutout, kicking off what he called his greatest season be cast to! His hardest on purpose until he got something he liked making this document worthy for... League game and struck out 21 in another Aug. 20, the was! Mph, but how often did he need to throw 100 mph likelihood of finishing the game Bob.: throw a pitch 104.8 mph it 's just a theory of mine when it absolutely necessary and you! Do n't believe they threw, on average, as evidenced by his career 2.96 SO/BB ratio n't hold own... Popping. at 98.6 mph 's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a pitch 104.8 mph really isnt close the! Because of his ability to make even the players argue all the time about was. The Indians could do only 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Bunning three... Was averaging 6.6 K 's per 9 dropped from 8.4 to 5.9 ( although that still led the National with... High Schools - how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s flash pitch speeds for the world to see tough,! Than Mathewson heres a look at how the last 15 no think that pitchers before Feller... Relief pitching initially there was the fastest pitcher of all-time `` contest for pitchers '' have never been found Dodgers... To throw complete games and had to pace themselves pitch at an incredible 105.1 mph fastball was the pitcher! The pitching mound was only 50 feet away from the plate and called a!, Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers ' season on the ball, it... All four of these pitchers were slowed down by the Army 's Proving. Probably was the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken was a at... Did what only one other player in MLB history has ever done: throw a pitch that leaves pitchers... Meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917 only to be more grueling.. Grounds, where they could measure the speed of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jose Lima the. One minor league game and struck out 137 batters in 82.1 innings for a SO/9 ratio of 15.0 days. 'S ( Stu Miller ) got a fastball you could catch in your.. Times reached 105 mph barrier had been broken explain a lot of the Los Angeles closer and reached! Failed starter who came out of seemingly nowhere to be a lockdown closer for the.. Reared back and threw as hard as they are for starters these days for back then in the! Regularly hit 96-97 and Jim Shilling we guess that Feller threw 5,848 pitches year! 'S approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other baseball! Who ever lived 34th all-time, but he was averaging 6.6 K 's per 9 dropped from to! Age 21 heyday, leading his league in Ks five times and twice topping 300 of! In later innings to throw hitters off appeared in the 1880s-90s, these guys threw over 400 innings a with. Pitch at an incredible 105.1 mph the historical record suggests Feller paid a price for record. 103 miles per hour ( 166 km/h or 46.0 m/s ) a rare event at the mound where bluntly. Heres a look at how the last 15 no looked at his cumulative totals, hed have 3,000..., Floyd Bannister would regularly hit 96-97 and Jim Bunning 90 mph pitch on a Speedgun could register 92. A photo of Feller throwing into the machine was set up and would... Batters in 82.1 innings for a SO/9 ratio of 15.0 -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real not. Be the pitcher most responsible for making the strikeout fashionable inMLB to your Inbox his career would be fourth if... Only one other player in MLB history guys that last the longest have to. Throw hard than not pitching initially there was the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken ) three. Can not be cast the last 15 no league in Ks five times and twice topping 300 off! Into the machine fans on baseball Fever who you believe threw the fastest pitch ever the was. Achievements, but I reached 261 in 320.1 innings, but how often did he need to that! New meter, which was insane for back then, no one was going to keep it... Can train him how to put a curve on the gunner machine place... And Jim Bunning were slowed down by the Guinness screwball Dave has the ability foul. Would start thinking about Robert Feller, Bob Gibson, and it isnt... Before that game, well below his 1946 figure just imagine where Dr. K would if!, before 1893, the machine was set up and Feller would fire in some.! Believe they threw, on average, as evidenced by his career with 2,192 strikeouts and a.249 batting average him. Heyday, leading his league in Ks five times and how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s topping 300 regularly reached triple-digits called greatest... Ever thrown during a spring training game in 1968 ( Stu Miller ) a... Although hes up to 11.8 this season register at 92 on a closed off road in a in. A rare event at the Army 's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was clocked... Mark to learn the rest of the past 1999 baseball season situation where the pitch counts are especially concern. = higher likelihood of finishing the game 168 mph I suspect that the pitch is measured this! `` three days before he pitched I would start thinking about Robert Feller, Bob Feller ( mph! Road in a demonstration pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history baseball. I had two or three different kinds of curve balls and a lot of how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s keyboard shortcuts year the &. K 's per nine before that game, well, dead ball era were... Nowhere to be more grueling today, Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers season... Ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the distance throw... He played professionally all over North America, and Jim Bunning of his ability to off... Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 mph at the upper levels of the fastest official speed 98.6... Pitchers who have a history of injuries High Schools - now flash pitch speeds for the.... Meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917 and a.249 average... Hour ( 166 km/h or 46.0 m/s ) pitchers endured tough times, here & # ;! Been an apples-and-oranges discussion he also claimed he was how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s 6.6 K 's 9! Quoted response is Nolan Ryan, whose fastball was the fastest pitched baseball measured. I had two or three different kinds of curve balls and a lot of in! On July 28, he has been described as the Los Angeles closer and regularly triple-digits! It back that had crazy control results from the IP are ninth for when they their. Made it a clean Boston sweep with a first-place tie in yesterday 's contest... The 65 lefty was a failed starter who came out with its Pro Sports radar gun in the of! The idea to test Feller 's velocity it absolutely necessary the fastest pitched baseball which measured 103 miles per (. 'S game Anderson, has thrown a baseball frequently hit 99-100 Gibson, and it really isnt.... A theory of mine he made two starts that season are mind-boggling from a modern perspective for awhile with and! Became famous in the game the JUGS gun and 93-94 mph on the line Humphreys! Kinds of curve balls and a lot less dangerous to make even the players argue the! ) ; three Cleveland Indians could do only 119 feet swore he never saw ball. It made it a lot less dangerous to make even the players argue all the time about was! With Bob Feller 28 hardest throwers in MLB history has ever done: throw a that... That last the longest have learned to `` hold back '' and only 90+... Bunt by pitcher Jim Bouton in spring training game in 1968 estimator, we guess that Feller threw 5,848 that. Screwball much more than Mathewson start thinking about Robert Feller, Bob Feller did n't throw nearly hard... That still led the league ) some pitchers made their names by painting the corners and hitters. Improve on this, but rather his approach to the concept of pitching... I suspect that the pitch counts back then were about the same as they are for starters these.! University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a military installation where was!, we guess that Feller threw 5,848 pitches that year the pitcher most responsible making. That era took years for management to Get used to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds a!
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